Unit Outline

Ever wonder why that tune gets stuck in your head, or when you listen to your favourite song your foot starts tapping, or why it's easier to remember the words of a song when you sing the tune? How do you choose the best music for a restaurant or in a dentist's surgery? Find out the answers to these questions and more in Music, Mind and Body. This unit explores the influence and impact of music and music-making on the human mind and body. You will develop an understanding of the way in which the brain perceives and processes music and learn about the development of musical taste, the effects of music on mood, creativity and improvisation, and the benefits of music listening and participation at all life stages. You will also learn about issues pertinent to health and wellbeing of amateur and professional musicians, including injury prevention. You will gain an understanding of research methods used to study music psychology, and critical thinking skills in evaluating research design. Music, Mind and Body will be valuable for all students interested in the use of music to enhance wellbeing. It will be of direct relevance for performing musicians, with strategies to broaden applications of music for a portfolio career or to help sustain a performing career. The unit will also be of interest to students from creative arts, humanities and social and health sciences pathways who are interested in incorporating music in their area of work, e.g. in rehabilitation, or in aged care, or in applied psychological and health science research.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1.	Analyse and evaluate potential social benefits, risks and ethical considerations relating to the use of music in a variety of contexts
2.	Reflect critically on the effects of music on mind and body from youth to old age across a range of cultures applying humanities, social science and health science perspectives
3.	Critique and evaluate research methods and apply appropriate methods in design of a proposed experiment

Alterations as a result of student feedback

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Online quiz	Week 6	20 %	LO1, LO2
Assessment Task 2:	Case study	Week 9	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:	Discussion Posts	Week 14	10 %	LO1, LO2
Assessment Task 4:	Proposal	Week 15	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Online quiz

Task Description:

Two multiple-choice quizzes, testing your knowledge of the effects of music on the brain, cognitive processing and therapeutic applications of music, employing social science and health science perspectives.

Task Length:

2 quizzes of 20 questions each. 25 minutes per quiz.

Due Date:

Week 6

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Demonstrate basic knowledge of cognitive processing of music	LO1, LO2
2	Recognise risks and ethical considerations in music interventions and music participation	LO1
3	Critically analyse scenarios of effects of music on social, emotional and physical health and wellbeing	LO2

Assessment Task 2: Case study

Task Description:

You will select a published research case study of a music therapy intervention or therapeutic program for an individual or group with neurological or respiratory illness or disability, or that uses music while people are undergoing medical procedures or treatment. You will summarize the nature and design parameters of this case study, evaluating methods, risks and outcomes in the context of other published research in this field. Your findings will be given on Power point slides.

Task Length:

10-12 Power point slides

Due Date:

Week 9

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Outline intent and research design of a case study of therapeutic use of music	LO2, LO3
2	Critically evaluate methods employed, potential risks, potential benefits and outcomes.	LO1, LO2, LO3
3	Employ research of therapeutic use of music and music cognition to contextualise the study and support your arguments	LO2, LO3

Assessment Task 3: Discussion Posts

Task Description:

Each week there will be formal online discussions with assigned music listening and/or readings to broaden knowledge of relevant literature and provide insights into the affective nature of music and its cognitive and physical effects. For this task you will contribute to the formal online discussions each week and at the end of semester submit one (1) of your initiating posts and one (1) of your replies to another student (including the post you are replying to) for assessment.

Task Length:

Contribution to weekly discussions 1 hour per week. Posts should not exceed 250 words.

Due Date:

Week 14

Weight:

10 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Contribute to the weekly online discussions, posting new threads and replying to other students’ posts	LO1, LO2
2	Communicate ideas, integrate knowledge and demonstrate critical analysis	LO2
3	Submit a post and reply that demonstrate application of knowledge and critical awareness, and represent quality of interaction with peers	LO1, LO2

Assessment Task 4: Proposal

Task Description:

Design an hypothetical experiment that would enable you to evaluate the positive or negative effects of music listening or music participation on the brain and/or body of a clearly identified cohort of people. You will write up a proposal for this research, using published scholarly literature to support your proposed design, evaluation of risks and projected outcomes.

Task Length:

2500 words

Due Date:

Week 15

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Explain the nature of the problem to be investigated and the need for proposed research	LO1, LO2
2	Critically review current literature relevant to your proposed experiment	LO3
3	Design an experiment, integrating knowledge and current research to argue for methods and procedures to be used, including recruitment of participants	LO2, LO3
4	Critically evaluate potential risks or ethical issues and expected outcomes	LO1, LO3

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.