EDTA 502 - Crafting Student Assessment in the Arts

Applying traditional assessment to arts instruction poses many challenges because what matters in the arts classroom (instilling a love of art, creativity, experimentation, etc.) can’t always be measured. The nature and diversity of art-based disciplines in schools means that assessments like multiple-choice tests and essays often can’t adequately assess student learning. So how can you determine if students are meeting your learning objectives in a way that also supports student growth?

In this course, you will evaluate the importance of authentic formative and summative assessment strategies for your arts classroom. You’ll examine assessment in the context of the National Core Arts Standards and explore several different techniques for evaluating students’ performance according to your learning objectives. In addition, you’ll learn how to use effective formative assessment and feedback to drive instruction and facilitate student progress.

Using the strategies from this course, you’ll be able ensure that your students take away from your curriculum what you intended and develop a long-lasting and meaningful appreciation of the arts.