This semester, Music Professor Justin Casinghino is teaching Art of Music, Introduction to Music Technology, Basic Music Theory, and Harmony I. Learn more about our Music Programs here.

Theater Professor Kelly Morgan broke down the workload and expectations for his Playwriting course during the first meeting of the semester. This course is designed to teach students the craft and art of playwrighting for the stage. The aim of the course is to foster and augment the student to engage in the writing of new theater works in the professional arena.

At the onset of his Writings in Aesthetics course, Dr. Robert Carr read an excerpt from A More Beautiful Question to illustrate how questioning can help with making decisions, sparking creativity, strengthening relationships, and transforming business. Located at the interface between theory and production, this course is a writing intensive Communication Studies course that capitalizes on this vantage point to critically examine the professional arts comprising our curriculum, namely film, video, graphic design, photography, interactive media, and professional communication. Through weekly readings and writings, seminar discussions, presentations, and a term length qualitative research project, this writing intensive course bridges the theory/production dichotomy. 

This morning, faculty got the chance to reconnect before the semester and attend various sessions with the theme “The Impact of Generative AI in Higher Education.” Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Patricia Marshall, and other Academic Affairs staff, welcomed all and provided updates, celebrated achievements, and listened to faculty concerns. Keynote speaker Dr. Carie Cardamone, Associate Director of STEM and Professional Schools, Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching at Tufts University presented "Teaching in the Age of AI: Navigating Challenges and Embracing Opportunities." After lunch, "How Fitchburg State Is Navigating AI: Lightning Talks from Across Campus" were presented.

As we prepare for our Winter Commencement, we offer a look back at the Fall Semester 2023. 

Last week, students in Game Design Professor Les Nelken's Virtual Reality Development course wrapped up their final projects. The course introduces students to virtual reality (VR) development, the principles and history of VR and VR systems, as well as how this rapidly advancing medium can be used in interactive and narrative entertainment, education and training, art and film creation, and other content areas. Topics include 3D interaction and VR user interface types, haptics, human perception, social VR, telepresence, augmented reality (AR) and the philosophical and scientific implications of how virtual reality may inform and alter human perception of reality. Students will playtest and critique a variety of VR games and apps, and work individually and in groups to create VR projects.

Last week, students in Professor Sally Moore's The Art of Puppetry class put the finishing touches on their puppets, including attaching the "marionette controller".. The course explores shape, form and movement as it relates to character, mood and atmosphere. The history of the art of puppetry from around the world is discussed through images, videos and readings. Students learn how to construct masks, shadow puppets, hand and rod puppets, and marionettes, and will work in groups to put on performances of folk tales from various parts of the world. Puppetry is also examined as a tool in education, therapy and advertising. Learn more about our Fine Art Program here.

Students in Theater Professor Mary Vreeland's  Acting 1 class work on their final scenes in Weston Auditorium last week. This course is an introduction to professional stage performance techniques. Students learn how to build a character using techniques such as playing actions, status, physical transformation, improvisation, relaxation and script analysis. Students perform monologues and scene work for the class and analyze and develop them.

Students enrolled in the Fitchburg State University Police Program's Recruit Officer Course (ROC) had their last monthly meeting of the semester earlier this week in Kent Auditorium. After inspection, students made their way to the auditorium where Professor Michael S. McCutcheon introduced Captain Christopher Garcia of the Fitchburg Police Department, who discussed the department's Civilian Traffic Control Specialists positions, which will pay $57 an hour to staff road details. Fitchburg Police Officer Ryan Kreidler later spoke with the students about the importance of physical fitness and the goals needed to be reached to advance in their careers. Learn more about our Criminal Justice Program here.

Students in Engineering Technology Professor Wayne Whitfield's Engineering Design & Fabrication II course put the finishing touches on their projects. This course studies mass production theory, systems and procedures in woodworking and residential construction, includes engineering design and leads to prototype development.