Audio/Radio Experience I Syllabus for 2021-2022
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Instructor Information

Course Information

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Disability Statement

If you have a disability (learning, mental, physical) that affects your ability to participate effectively and have access to any program or service at Amarillo College please contact Disability Services at (806) 345-5639 . Our offices are located in the Student Service Center office 112. More information may be found at www.actx.edu/disability.
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As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

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Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

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Course

RTVB-1150-001 Audio/Radio Experience I

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: COMM 2303 or instructor consent

Course Description

Laboratory experience in radio operation and announcing by broadcasting on the college radio station, KACV-FM.

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

(1 sem hr; 4 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

FM90 Operations Manual (available on Blackboard)

Supplies

Headphones with 1/4" adapter

A blue or black ink pen

Student Performance

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

Students enrolled in RTVB 1150, RTVB 2250 and COMM 2324 will meet these objectives:

1. The student will be able to organize and budget time in preparing live announcements and/or recorded announcements. 

2. The student will be able to set up control and production studios, including computer hardware and software for student operation.  

3. The student will be able to operate and process information from control and production computer software.  

4. The student will be able to design and execute promotional contests with air staff members.  

5. The students will be able to design and program special music block for broadcast.

6. The student will be able to write and produce promos.  

7. The student will be able to identify FCC rules regarding underwriters. 

8. The student will be able to write and produce underwriting spots.

9. The student will be able to recover from control and production studios hardware and software crashes. 

10. The student will be able to set and monitor personal goals with regularly scheduled critique sessions.  

11. The student will be able to execute live remotes. 

 

*SCANS competencies met:

Resources: Identifies, organizes, plans and allocates resources (time, money, materials and facilities, human resources).

Information: Acquires 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

Students will broadcast on FM90 weekly. One 3-hour shift per week.

 

Department Policies:

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. All airshifts will be recorded; failure to do so will result in immediate suspension.

 

Key Cards:

Students who require a key card to access the building for late night shifts must pay a $25 deposit. The deposit will be refunded when the card is returned. If the card is lost, stolen, broken, or not returned by the student the deposit will be forfeited. 

 

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

COURSE REQUIREMENTS FOR RTVB 1150:

Board shifts - 16 required over 16 weeks. (One 3-hour shift per week) - 40%

One air check -  10%

One live remote - 10%

Mastery of radio formatics - 20%

APT (Attitude, professionalism and teamwork) - 20%

 

Grading:

 

A = Excellent (100%-90%)

B = Good (89%-80%)

C = Average (79%-70%)

D = Weak (69%-60%)

F = Unacceptable (59%-0%)

 

Aircheck:

Students must arrange an air check critique with instructor. Students will not get credit if critiques do not take place within the assigned dates desginated for airchecks unless prior arrangements have been made with the instructor. Airchecks will be held at least every 6 weeks. But any/all shifts may be airchecked at any time.

 

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:	Audio levels not audible or over amplified.	Audio levels are inconsistent.	Audio levels are consistent.	Audio levels are consistent among multiple channels using various equipment.
Mechanics:	Missing breaks, dead air.	Breaks are not started quickly causing some dead air.	No dead air, breaks and talking starts directly after song.	Breaks and talking are fluid, talking over songs and hitting the post.

 

Mastery of Radio Formatics:

Mastering formatics include 1/4 hour maintenance, playing correct songs, smooth song to song execution, backsells, ID’s, contests, raps, correct artist identification and being on time for air shifts.

                       

Mastery of Radio Formatics Grading: Points deducted from 100%.

Infraction:	Points deducted:
Breaking playlist	25
Missed station ID	25
Ego flare ups/attitude	15
Incomplete logs	10
“Stepping” on songs	5
Not saying “FM90”	5
Incorrect contest procedures	5
Talking out of promo	5
No aircheck saved	5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Attitude, Professionalism and Teamwork (APT):

Any violations of a policy in the FM-90 Operations Manual will result in a deduction of points in this category. Two or more policy violations will result in on-air probation and/or supervision. Policy violations include logging procedures, EAS activations and tests, etc. Suspension will occur for students under the influence of alcohol or illegal substances. Students may be reinstated after review with instructor, general manager and department chair.

All specialty show hosts must also pull one alternative music board shift per week. Waivers will be granted only in extenuating circumstances.

 

Promotional Assignment:

 Assignments by Program Director. Schedule of these assignments will be dictated by activities on campuses of Amarillo College. Jocks may discuss promotional ideas or assignments with Program Director.

 

Other Assignments:

Occassionally the Program Director will need voices for spots, blogs written for FM90's website, and playlists that need to be created for Spotify. Students will be asked to help create content for FM90 from time to time. Participation will be credited in a student's APT points.

 

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 PER DAY LATE will be enforced (based on an assignment grading scale of 100 points).

 

“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 371-5436) as soon as possible.”

Attendance

Failure to pull (or have covered) an assigned board shift will result in a two week suspension. If a situation which prevents you from pulling your shift is unavoidable, it is your responsibility to find someone to cover it, but you must notify the program director of the change before it occurs. Failure to provide notification of a change will result in a ten point deduction from your final grade.

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, or the Online Course Contract. 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."