Evaluate Stage:Songsmith

You are expected to evaluate the product/solution against the design specification in an objective manner based on testing, and to evaluate its impact on life, society and/or the environment.

You are expected to explain how the product/solution could be improved as a result of these evaluations.

As students, you are expected to evaluate your own performance at each stage of the design cycle and to suggest ways in which your performance could be improved.(Maximum 3 pages, Times New Roman font, 12 pt font size, Your name in the footer)

Please use the questions as a guide to your evaluate stage.

-How did you perform in each stage of the design cycle? What were your strengths and what were your weakness?

-What are some of the improvements that you would make to your product following the feedback from testing?

- what were the views of the client?

- Which stage of the design cycle did you perform well and which stage did you perform poorly and what were your reasons?

- Reflect on one the area of interaction linked to this project:

Assessment Criteria

0 : The student does not reach a standard described by any of the descriptors given below.

1-2 :The student attempts to evaluate the music produced and his/her own performance. The student makes some attempt to test the product created.

3-4: The student to a greater extend evaluates the music produced and his or her own performance and suggests ways in which these could be improved. The student tests the product to evaluate it against the design specification

5-6: The student evaluates the success of the music produced in an objective manner based on the results of testing, and the views of the intended users. The student provides an evaluation of his or her own performance at each stage of the design cycle and suggests improvements. The student provides an appropriate evaluation of the impact of the product and or solution on life, society and or the environment.

Create Stage:Songsmith

The final created product should meet your design specs; We expect ;

• Lyrics included
• music to last as specified in the design specification
• include the various styles and techniques available in the software
• submitt the final product in a CD
• The CD labelled appropriately
• Modification, testing and any other challenges recorded in the process jouranl

Assessment criteria

0 : The student does not reach a standard described by any of the descriptors given below.

1-2:The student considers the plan and creates a simple song using very few styles and techniques from the software.

3-4:The student uses appropriate styles and techniques available in the software in the proudction of the music. The student follows the plan and mentions any modifications made in the process journal. The resulting music produced is of good quality and it is burned on a CD and labelled correctly.

5-6: The student competently uses styles and techniques in the software appropriately in the music production. The student follows the plan and justifies any modifications made in the process journal. The resulting music produced is of appropriate quality and it's burned on a CD and labelled appropriately.

Plan Stage: Songsmith Unit.

Develop a plan using any appropriate planning tool of your choice. Using your planning tool ensure the following are provided;

• Brief description of what is going to happen
• Decription of the tools or ideas used in achieving the individual task and why?
• The duration of the task or activity any why?
• Mentions persons involved at any stage and why?

The planning tool should be in exactly two pages, landscape paper orientation, New Times Roman font style used and font size 12. Print and submit before the set midnight deadline.

Below are some activities that must be in your plan: Getting and install software, testing the product, writing the lyrics, recording, editing, improvements, burning in a CD.

Evaluation of the Plan

You will then evaluate the planning and justify the modification to the designs.

• What are the strengths and limitations of using the choosen planning tool.
• What modifications where made to the original music designs and why?

This should be in exactly one page and all information in paragraphs, New Times Roman style, font size 12 used, and your name page numberss in the footer. Email the evaluation of the plan to me by the set deadline.

The Assessment Rubric
0: The student does not reach a standard described by any of the descriptors given below.

1-2: The student has identified and used a simple planning tool that contains sketchy details of the steps and/or the resource required.

3-4: The student has identified and used an appropriate planning tool that contains a number of logical steps that include resources, reasons and time. The student makes some attempt to evaluate the plan.

5-6: The student has identified and used the best suitable planning tool that contains a number of detailed, logical steps that describe the use of resources and time. The student critically evaluates the plan and justifies any modifications to the design.

Design Assessment Rubric

0 : The student does not reach a standard described by any of the descriptors given below

1-2: The student generates one or two designs of music software demo using basic or limited techniques. The comparison between the software is superficial and makes little attempt to justify this against the design specification.

3-4:The student generates two music demos applying some of the inbuilt styles and techniques appropriately. The student explains the strength, limitations and similarities of software used. The student justifys the choice of one music design and fully explains this against the design specification.

5-6:The student generates two music demos applying most of the styles and techniques in each skillfully. Each used software is discussed in terms of strengths and weaknesses against the design specification. A justification is done for the final choice with a more extensive and critical discussion (strengths and weaknesses) against the design specification.

Design Stage: Songsmith Unit

In this Unit's design stage, you will develop two different possibilities or demontrations using any two different music software.

Each demonstration will;
- Last between 30-60 seconds
- apply most of the techniques and styles available in the software
- You have the option of either adding lyrics or not
- All the beats generated must be original and not editted from other songs


After the two demonstration development is completed, you will be required to write a detailed report comparing the two softwares used.(ONLY IN LESS THAN TWO PAGES)

- Describe the advantages of each software ( write this in two paragraphs)
- Describe the disadvantages of each software( write this in two paragraphs)
- Describe the similarities of the two softwares(write this in one paragraph)
- Explain how & which software meets your design specs mentioned in the investigate stage( write this in one paragraph)
-Justify your choice: From the two softwares used, which one will you use to create your final product and why?(Write this in one paragraph )

Any references and sources should use the APA standard referencing style and should be shown at the end of the last page.

APA Citation Activity

Go thro the following information in the following link

http://citationcenter.net/style_guides.php5?page=apa


Write different references using the citation genrator below

http://citationcenter.net/ctool.php5

Answer the APA citation activity in the following link

http://library.sullivan.edu/old/CSS/APAquizpp1_files/frame.htm

Investigate Stage: Songsmith Unit

Please respond to the following activities in word word ensuring that it does not exceed 5 pages of font 12 Times New Roman. Keeping a process journal will be compulsory. Ensure that entries are made to process journal and carry it with you for checking in all the CT lessons.

Introduction
Music software has been used to produce music for different situations. Many issues in our society have been addressed through the power of music. The use of music software therefore has made it easy to produce music of high quality and solved the address the many problems of the society.


Problem Description:
In this unit you will be a music producer and you will be tasked with the problem of using any music software to produce music for your client or a group of clients.
a) Identify and describe what your clients problem is. (200 words).
- Who have you identified as your client?
- What issue is to be addressed as stated by the client?
- How is the problem addressed currently in the society?
- What challenges are faced by your client/clients currently before the IT solution is introduced? Give examples where possible.

b) Design Brief: (100 words)
• What will you create to address the problem identified above?
• Why do you think this is the best solution?
• What is your motivation in using this IT solution?
• What are the benefits/advantages of creating the stated product?

c) Secondary Research
For our better understanding of software use in music production, an indepth research should carried out. In your research, all sources must be written in the standard APA format of citation ( see examples of citations in http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_apa_format_examples.shtml ). I will expect to see the following sources for your research.
- 6 Internet sources.
- 3 Books sources.
- 2 Newspaper sources
- 2 Magazine sources.

Below are some areas of research expected. Each information obtained should be summarized or written as briefly as possible with sub-headings.

- Who was the producer, what was the software used to produce the first song using music software?
- What are the different music production software in the market?
- What are the steps taken when producing music, using music software?
- What are the benefits of using producing music using music software?
-What are the disadvantages of using music software in music production?
- What are the different careers/jobs created by the introduction of music software?
-What careers/jobs have been lost or in danger of disappearing as a result of introducing music software?
-What are the different techniques and styles that can be achieved using music software?
-What policies and laws have been in place in regards to software usage in music production?
-Name some online training companies that train how to use music software and discuss their impact.



d) Primary Research
Interview/ Questionnaire: Part of data collection involves primary data collection. You will carry out an interview to establish the impact of producing music using music software . (Your interview document should have the following headings: Name of the interviewed, his/ her position, place of interview and date)
- Identify a person within school or outside who has produced music or will produce music.
- Develop 10 open ended questions that you will need to ask.
- Set an appointment and interview that person or use a questionnaire
- Write down all the responses from the interview process or summarize the responses from the questionaire.

e) Design Specification
Design specification describes the details of what the final product should have based on the client problem. For examples; how long with the music last? which will instruments included in product etc.

-Outline some of the design specification that we want to see in our final database product. (Minimum of 10 specs)

f) Test Strategy
Any product must tested before being handed over to the client or users.

- Describe the different strategies that you will use to test the product once it is finished.