University of Calgary
Faculty of Communication & Culture

Communications (COMS) 40112, L01
Special Topics in Communications Studies
Introduction to Acoustic Ecology/Acoustic Communications

Block Week Course - TWRFS, 9:30-17:00

Dr. Marcia J. Epstein
SS 332 / Phone 220-4848
epstein@ucalgary.ca

General Description

In an increasingly visually-oriented culture, are we losing the ability to access information through hearing? What are the implications of sound for communication and learning? Acoustic Ecology (AE) studies the effects of sound -- including speech, music, noise, and silence -- in natural and human environments, as well as its effects on health, cognition and culture. It is an emerging interdisciplinary field which weaves together aspects of physical sciences, health sciences, communication theory, cognitive psychology, sociology, musicology and aesthetics. The field of Acoustic Communications (AC) is concerned with the ways in which speech and music convey meaning. This course is intended to provide an introduction to selected concepts, techniques and applications from AE and AC.

NB: Some fieldwork (off campus) is required.

Expectations

Participants will be expected to demonstrate the following skills upon completion of the course:

-  Ability to learn and use descriptive terminology and mapping techniques for environmental sound;

-  Ability to perceive and describe a variety of acoustic environments;

-  Familiarity with and discussion of concepts and issues presented in the course;

-  Ability to write clearly and coherently in English.

NB: If you have a significant hearing impairment, please let me know on the first day of classes.

Texts

All readings will be available online from the website of the World Forum for Acoustic Ecology, linked to Blackboard. 

Assignments                                                                          

            Group project outline -----------------------------------------------------  10%              Sept. 5

            Class participation  (prepared topic on readings; discussions)20%          Sept. 5-7

            Listening journal  ----------------------------------------------------------   10%             Sept. 7

            Quiz----------------------------------------------------------------------------    20%             Sept. 7

            Fieldwork presentation --------------------------------------------------    20%             Sept. 8 

            Group project paper due---------------------------------------------------  20%            Sept. 24

It is the student's responsibility to keep a copy of each submitted assignment.
Note: Please hand in your essays directly to your tutor or instructor if possible. If it is not possible to do so, a daytime drop box is available in SS110; a date stamp is provided for your use. A night drop box is also available for after-hours submission. Assignments will be removed the following morning, stamped with the previous day's date, and placed in the instructor's mailbox.

Policy for Late Assignments

Assignments submitted after the deadline may be penalized with the loss of a grade (e.g.: A- to B+) for each day late.

Writing Skills Statement

Faculty policy directs that all written assignments (including, although to a lesser extent, written exam responses) will be assessed at least partly on writing skills. For details see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/info. Writing skills include not only surface correctness (grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, etc.) but also general clarity and organization. Research papers must be properly documented.

If you need help with your writing, you may use the Writing Centre.  Visit the website for more details: www.efwr.ucalgary.ca

Grading System

The following grading system is used in the Faculty of Communication and Culture:

A+ (96-100); A (92-95); A- (86-91); B+ (81-85); B (77-80); B- (71-76);
C+ (65-70); C (62-64); C- (59-61); D+ (55-58); D (50-54); F (0-49)

Plagiarism

Using any source whatsoever without clearly documenting it is a serious academic offense. Consequences include failure on the assignment, failure in the course and possibly suspension or expulsion from the university.

You must document not only direct quotations but also paraphrases and ideas where they appear in your text. A reference list at the end is insufficient by itself. Readers must be able to tell exactly where your words and ideas end and other people's words and ideas begin. This includes assignments submitted in non-traditional formats such as Web pages or visual media, and material taken from such sources.

Please consult your instructor or the Writing Centre (SS 106, efwr.ucalgary.ca) if you have any questions regarding how to document sources.

Students with Disabilities

If you are a student with a disability who may require academic accommodation, it is your responsibility to register with the Disability Resource Centre (220-8237) and discuss your needs with your instructor no later than fourteen (14) days after the start of the course.

Students' Union

For details about the current Students' Union contacts for the Faculty of Communication and Culture see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/su

"SAFEWALK" Program -- 220-5333

Campus Security will escort individuals day or night -- call 220-5333 for assistance. Use any campus phone, emergency phone or the yellow phone located at most parking lot booths.

Ethics

Whenever you perform research with human participants (i.e. surveys, interviews, observation) as part of your university studies, you are responsible for following university research ethics guidelines.  Your instructor must review and approve of your research plans and supervise your research.  For more information about your research ethics responsibilities, see the U of C Research Ethics "Information for Applicants," sections 3.0 to 9.0, inclusive: http://www.ucalgary.ca/UofC/research/html/ethics/info_undergrad.html

Schedule of Lectures and Readings

Some changes may occur to accommodate guest speakers

Pre-Session Study: 
Readings from Blackboard "Course documents" section:

                        Copeland "Ten Questions";  Wrightson, "An Introduction..." ; Mayer "Above and Below..."

Sept. 4              Introduction to concepts, functions of sound, physiology of hearing, history of                                            ambient noise.  Vocabularies. Formation of project groups.

                        Physics and metaphysics of sound, perception exercises.

                        Guest: R. Patching

                        Focus Questions: What is hearing? What is listening?

                        Readings: Copeland "Ten Questions", Wrightson,  Mayer

Sept. 5              Soundscapes and mapping, space as resonator. sound as cultural boundary, silence.

                        Guest: Dr. D. Caswell

                        Campus soundwalk and discussion.

                        Focus Question: What do I hear at this moment?

                        Readings:  Krause, Franklin, De Geest                     

Sept. 6              Sound as communication, hearing vs. listening, meaning in sound,

                        the voice as communicator, sound and health.

                        Guest: S. Bonfield

                        Soundscape Fieldwork session I.

                        Focus Questions: How do I listen? How do I produce sound?

                        Readings:  Redstrom, Schafer,  Ferrington

                        Guest: S. Bonfield

Sept. 7              Issues in noise and noise control

                        Guest: D. Burke and/or T. Drew

                        QUIZ.

                        Soundscape Fieldwork session II.

                        Readings: Tatum,  Copeland "Indifference".

Sept. 8              Fieldwork reports and discussions.