Interior Design 150

History of Furniture

Fall Quarter 2009

 

Instructor Contact Information

Instructor:      Connie Wais

E-mail:            The class website on WebCT includes a web-based email service.  Use this service for ALL email that pertains to this class.  To use the site email follow the “Mail” from the class site Toolbar; then use the Browse function to select the addressee.  Compose your message and send it.  (For Emergencies ONLY:  connie.wais@bellevuecollege.edu

Telephone:    425-564-2623 or 425-564-2341 (A & H office)

Office hours: My office hours are by appointment only; contact me directly (using WebCT email) to make arrangements.

 

Course Description

 

Welcome to the History of Furniture!  INDES 150 will provide the framework for a comprehensive examination of the history of furniture from Antiquity to the mid-eighteenth century and will be mostly focused on western production of case and seat furniture.  The countries involved are mainly, but not exclusively:  Italy, France, England, and the United States. Furniture will be presented in the historical and socio-economic context for the existence of a type or style of furniture within a period.  Construction techniques will also be presented along with other influences in the development of various styles.

 

We will study national furniture production first in France then move to England and America, noting the ways in which French design had a lasting impact on furniture designs internationally.

 

Course Objective

 

Students successfully completing this course will be able to: 

·        Identify different styles and periods of furniture from the antiquity through the early nineteenth century.

·        Understand the historical influences behind furniture design and development.

·        Evaluate a piece of furniture based on its function, overall design, manufacture and social/historical significance

  • Understand the relationship of concurrent periods to each other in France, England and the United States.

 

Students enrolling in this class are expected to be comfortable with basic computer functions.  As a core class within the Interior Design curriculum, all degree seeking students must earn a C- or better in the course.  See “Course Outcomes” to further clarify objectives of this course.

Textbooks and Materials

 

Your textbook for the quarter is:

 

Interior Design and Decoration by Sherrill Whiton and Stanley Abercrombie
(Available at the Bellevue College Bookstore and through various online retailers such as Amazon.com)

 

Also recommended is:

 

Dictionary of Furniture by Charles Boyce
(This book is out of print but if you can get your hands on a copy it will prove to be a useful resource for you.)

 

Materials that you will need to complete this class include:

 

  • Access to the Web
  • Access to word processing software and a printer
  • Miscellaneous office supplies like paper, binders, cutting tools, etc.

 

Materials that you may need to complete this class include:

 

  • Access to BC’s Library - books on reserve and online databases.
  • One or more CD-R or DVD-R disks, and/or Zip disks for backing up your work.

 

Class Web Site

 

To log onto our class website, go to http://vista.bcc.ctc.edu.  Enter your student number as your username and your birth date (MMDDYY) to access you’re my WebCT main screen.  The class site should appear as a link.  The site will be open by the first day of fall quarter.  The site will be used to post announcements, discussions, messages and assignments, as well as course slide lectures. 

 

Occasionally, web site technical problems can block you from accessing the site for a few minutes to a few hours.  If you cannot access the site, check back later.  If you still cannot access the site at a later time, please contact me using the emergency email address above for further instructions. 

 

An excellent resource for help with technical problems is the Distance Education office.  They are very knowledgeable and it is the mission of the Distance Ed staff to assist you to have the best online learning experience possible.  Contact the Distance Ed staff at 425.564.2438. 

 

Class Participation and Communications

 

One of the advantages of an online class is that the classroom is open 24/7 and you can come to class when and where it is convenient for you.  One of the disadvantages is that being and online learner often requires a greater degree of self-discipline.  My suggestion to you is that you “come to class” at least three times per week, just like you would for a classroom class.  The more frequently you come to class, and the more that you participate through reading and writing discussion responses, the more you will get out of the course.

 

All communications will be done through the class’s Blackboard site. Any necessary revisions or important class announcements will be announced through the site so you will need to check your class email and announcements on a regular basis.  Please be aware that it is your responsibility to remain appraised of all class matters. 

 

You can interact with me or the whole class via the discussion board or email.  Using the discussion board is equivalent to raising your hand in class.  It is a communication that will benefit the entire class and your classmates may respond.  Of course broadcast emails to the entire class are another option for group interaction. 

 

A personal email is equivalent to coming up to see me (or another student) after class or during a break. Please use email when a more one on one conversation is desired. 

 

When corresponding with me via email, please understand that it may at times take up to 24 hours to respond on weekdays and up to 48 hours on weekends.  I make every effort to check my email several times per day and to be responsive to your questions or concerns.  It is my intention to provide feedback and grades within one week of the submission of work. 

 

Projects and Assignments

 

You will be assigned one major project for the quarter.  There will be two submission deadlines – one mid-quarter submission and one final submission.  Project submission for the midterm will be via mail, email, or in person/on-site drop off.  Project submission for the final will need to be a hardcopy so you will need to mail your project or drop it off in person by the due date.

 

You will be expected to participate in class discussions on each style period by answering discussion questions, replying to your classmates answers, and reading through the responses of others (roughly on a weekly basis). 

 

Late work will not be accepted.  Projects and assignments are due by 12:00 midnight on their assigned due date.  Please allow adequate mailing time if sending via regular mail. 

 

Exams

 

There will be two midterms and a final exam in this course.  The two midterms will cover the material surveyed in the readings and slide lectures prior to each exam.  It is expected that the student will augment the assigned readings with the use of research materials to further clarify lecture topics.  The final exam will be somewhat comprehensive in that it will assume knowledge of vocabulary and key ideas covered on the first two exams as well as new content knowledge from the last third of the quarter. 

 

Exams will be timed so it is important that you have your study materials well organized before starting the exams.  

 

Student Services

 

If you need help with your writing skills, please make use of the Writing Lab in D-204 (425-564-2493).  These folks can really make the difference if you are struggling…but go to them early, not the hour before your assignment is due. 

 

If you require accommodation based on a documented disability, have emergency medical information to share, or need special arrangements in case of emergency evacuation, please make and appointment with me as soon as possible.  If you would like to inquire about becoming a DRC (Disability Resource Center) student you may call (425) 564-2498 or go in person to the DRC office in B-132.

 

Final Grades

 

  • Points will be totaled and grades assigned at the end of the quarter.
  • Grades are awarded on an A through F scale, with “+” and “-“ grades given between the letter grades. 
  • Instructor reserves the right to adjust the student’s final grade up or down 5-15 points to reflect class participation and attendance. 
  • No incompletes will be given. 

 

Please see the course overview for a complete listing of projects and assigned point values. 

 

Since INDES 150 is an exit requirement for graduation, your graduation will be denied until you pass this course with a C- or better. 

 

Student Procedures and Expectations

 

Students taking this course are subject to the terms and conditions outlined in the Arts and Humanities Student Procedures and Expectations manual.  You can find the full text of this document at http://bellevuecollege.edu/ArtsHum/policy.html  

 

Class Evaluation

 

Toward the end of the quarter, you will receive instructions on providing feedback about the class you are taking.  This evaluation will only take a few moments of your time and is required of you by the college.  Please let me know if you have any questions about this class requirement.

 

Grading 

 

Points are awarded and converted to percentages for computation of your final grade based on the following: 

 

·         Midterm exam #1                       

·         Midterm exam #2                       

·         Final exam                                 

·         Review Chart Project               

·         Discussions                               

 

Grading Scale:

 

95-100%        =A                   90-94%          =A-

86-89%          =B+                 84-85%          =B

80-83%          =B-                  76-79%          =C+

74-75%          =C                   70-73%          =C-

65-69%          =D+                 60-64%          =D

   <60%           =F