Audio Production I Syllabus for 2021-2022
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Course

COMM-2303-001 Audio Production I

Prerequisites

Course Description

Practical experience in the operation of audio equipment, including both prep and post-production needs.

Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 2 lec, 2 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

FM90 Operations Manual (available on Blackboard)

Supplies

- A blue or black ink pen.

- Pair of headphones with a 1/4” stereo plug. (available in the AC Bookstore)

Student Performance

Refer to FM90 Operations Manual.

 

Purpose of this course: This course will introduce the student to radio broadcasting. Students will learn basic production, FCC rules and regulations, programming, station organization, and proper equipment usage.

Specific Objectives:

• Student will be able to list and analyze the responsibilities of the different positions at a commercial radio station. 
• The student will be able to list crucial FCC rules and guidelines necessary for station operation. 
• The student will be able to execute FCC and station policy guidelines and will pass FM-90 permit exam as proof.
• The student will be able to list the elements of a station’s public inspection file. 
• The student will be able to list and describe popular radio formats. 
• The student will be able to list and describe formats of all Amarillo radio stations. 
• The student will be able to analyze radio station “Hot Clocks.” 
• The student will be able to demonstrate studio equipment use in KACV-FM.
• The student will be able to analyze Nielsen Ratings results and describe Nielsen terminology. 
• The student will be able to analyze and prepare basic radio promotions. 
• The student will be able to execute promotions on KACV-FM both off-air and on-air.  
• The student will be able to act as a KACV-FM radio personality.  
• The student will be able to solve problems of computer hardware and software crashes. 
• The student will be able to write, process and communicate thoughts to target audience. 
• The student will be able to organize liners, newscasts, music and feature programming within time allowed. 
• The student will be able to organize control room work area and materials efficiently. 
• The student will be able to assume responsibilities of scheduled air shift, socialize with questionnaires to listeners and monitor progress of goals with regularly scheduled critique sessions. (airchecks) 

*SCANS competencies met:

• Resources: Identifies, organizes, plans and allocates resources (time, money, materials and facilities, human resources).
• Information: Acquire and uses information.
• Interpersonal: Works with others, serves clients, exercises leadership.
• Systems: Understands complex interrelationships (evaluates, monitors, improves social, organizational and technological systems)
• Technology: Works with a variety of technologies (selects technology, maintains and troubleshoots equipment).
• Basic Skills: Reads, writes performs arithmetic and mathematical operations, listens and speaks.
• Thinking Skills: Thinks creatively, makes decisions, solves problems, visualizes, knows how to learn, and reasons.
• Personal Qualities: Displays responsibility, self-esteem, sociability, self-management, integrity and honesty

 

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

- Attendance of two in-class lectures per week for 16 weeks (unless otherwise noted)

- Students must participate in weekly discussions in class.

- Students will broadcast on FM90 weekly. (schedule TBD)

 

FM90 air personalities are required to be aware of and follow the FM90 Operations Manual, Amarillo College policies, Matney Mass Media policies and FCC operational rules. Failure to comply with these regulations will result in IMMEDIATE SUSPENSION from the air for an indefinite period of time.

 

Plagiarism is unacceptable. Plagiarism is considered serious academic misconduct. All written assignments presented in this class must be original work by the student. Any student caught plagiarizing or cheating will receive a failing grade for the course.

Grading Criteria

COMM2303 consists of 50% in-class lecture and 50% lab criteria. 

 

Class: 

The lecture portion of the class will consist of four section exams and one final project. There are broken down as follows:

 

Exams: In this class there are four sections: 

• Section 1: The History of Radio
• Section 2: Station Management
• Section 3: Programming, Promotion, and Sales
• Section 4: Pop Culture in Radio

There will be four exams, covering each of the four sections.

 

Weekly discussion questions:

Discussion questions will be during class. Students must participate in order to receive credit. Discussions will be counted towards a students APT (Attitude, Participation, and Teamwork) grade.

 

Final Project: The final project allows students to build their "Dream Radio Station", applying knowledge they've learned during the course.

 

To complete this course students are required to broadcast on KACV-FM (FM90) as part of their lab requirement. 

Lab: The Lab portion of COMM2303 comes from scheduled weekly air shifts on FM90. One 3-hour shift is required each week. These shifts will be assigned with the FM90 Program Director based on the student's schedule.

Lab grades consist of: 

• Number of airshifts
• Arriving on time for shifts
• One air check
• One on-location remote
• Attitude, Participation, Teamwork (APT)
• Overall knowledge of equipment.

More than two unexcused absences from the lab meeting will result in you failing the lab portion of the class.

 

On-Location Remote: There will be opportunities for remotes with Amarillo College events and/or non-profit organized events. If we are unable to do a remote in public due to health and safety concerns, a "Remote By Phone" option will be offered. Students will call the instructor and simulate a live radio broadcast.

 

When a veteran student stops attending class, the Registrar’s Office and the veteran’s counselor will be notified. NO official warnings will be given to students when excessive absences jeopardize their successful completion of the class.

 

Late Assignments: All course work (including, but not limited to: assignments, labs, quizzes, exams, and final projects) must be submitted no later than the due date unless prior arrangements are made with the instructor and a new due date is established. If a student submits an assignment after the due date without having made arrangements with the instructor, a minimum of 5 points will be deducted for each DAY that the assignment is late. (Based on an assignment grading scale of 100 points) 

 

Extra Credit:

I DO NOT GIVE EXTRA CREDIT!

 

Grading:

 

A = Excellent (100%-90%)

B = Good (89%-80%)

C = Average (79%-70%)

D = Weak (69%-60%)

F = Unacceptable (59%-0%)

 

This course is graded on a 100-pt scale broken down as follows:

 

Lecture Grades:

Section 1 Exam - 10%

Section 2 Exam - 10%

Section 3 Exam - 10%

Section 4 Exam - 10%

Final Project - 10%

= 50%

 

Lab Grades:

16 Board Shifts (One 3-hour shift per week for 16 weeks) - 20% total

1 - Aircheck - 5%

1 - Live Remote - 10%

Attendance, Professionalism, Teamwork and Skill Acquisition - 15%

= 50%

 

Lecture (50%) + Lab (50%) = 100%

 

Grading Rubric for Discussion Posts:

1 and 2 = Not Met, 3 and 4 = Met

	Beginning 1	Developing 2	Accomplished 3	Exemplary 4
Quality of Post	No posting.	Responded but with minimum effort	Appropriate comments and responds respectfully to other comments.	Appropriate comments. Thoughtful and respectful of other postings
Relevance of Post	No posting.	Posts topics that don’t relate to the discussion topic; makes short or irrelevant remarks	Posts comments that are related to the discussion	Posts topics related to the discussion topic. Prompts further discussion of the topic
Contribution to the Learning Community	No feedback provided to another student.	Does not make an effort to participate in the learning community as it develops	Attempts to direct the discussion and presents relevant viewpoints; interacts freely	Attempts to motivate the group discussion and presents creative approaches to the topic

 

Grading Rubric for Airchecks:

1 and 2 = Not Met, 3 and 4 = Met

Beginning 1 Developing 2 Accomplished 3 Exemplary 4 On-Air Delivery: Not talking on-air. Talking on-air but with minimum effort. Appropriate amount of talking and effort while broadcasting on-air. Appropriate amount of talking, creative breaks, adding extra information into breaks. On-Air Reading: Not reading information on-air. Reading information that isn’t approved by instructor. Reading the appropriate amount while on-air. Reading appropriate amount of liners, adding extra personality and energy. Audio Levels: Mechanics: Audio levels not audible or over amplified. Missing breaks, dead air. Audio levels are inconsistent. Breaks are not started quickly causing some dead air. Audio levels are consistent. No dead air, breaks and talking starts directly after song. Audio levels are consistent among multiple channels using various equipment. Breaks and talking are fluid, talking over songs and hitting the post.

Attendance

**NOT SHOWING UP FOR A SCHEDULED SHIFT WITHOUT NOTIFYING THE INSTRUCTOR MAY RESULT IN SUSPENSION FROM FM90**

 

Attitude-behavior/Attitude problems will result in a deduction for each offense.

More than 2 instances will result in suspension

 

We will cover a large amount of material in this class and your attendance is essential. You will be allowed five absences between class and lab. You cannot be on the air if you do not attend class.

 

Students may set up a scheduled meeting time with the instructor: amy.presley@actx.edu

Calendar

Additional Information

School and Government Police: Due to the nature of the radio industry (government licensed), it is imperative that you understand and follow both school policy and FCC regulations regarding the operations of KACV-FM. You must sign and return 1.) The attached form and 2.) The form attached to the operations manual. Both must be turned in immediately to the instructor. Failure to follow these rules will result in withdrawal from the class. NO EXCUSES!

 

"Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact Accessibility Services (L101, Phone 806-371-5436) as soon as possible."