Resources and Readings
National Organizations and Efforts Addressing Arts Assessment
The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO)
http://www.ccsso.org/Projects/SCASS/Projects/Arts_Education_Assessment_Consortium/
Within CCSSO is the State Collaborative on Assessment and Student Standards (SCASS). SCASS Arts is a collaboration among some of its member states to develop assessment tools in the arts for large-scale assessments. The group has published the Handbook on Developing Performance Assessments in Arts Education: Lessons Learned. This site has an update on their current progress along with publications available for purchase and download.
National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Assessment of Arts Education
http://nces.ed.gov/naep3/arts/
In 1997 the U.S. Department of Education nationally assessed eighth graders in music, visual arts, and theatre. Extensive materials from this assessment, including assessment tools are available online (http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/arts/). This assessment included:
- Authentic tasks to assess students’ abilities in creating and performing in music and theatre and creating in visual arts
- Prompts for student self-assessment
- Test questions to assess students’ abilities to respond
In 2008 the NAEP is nationally assessing eighth graders in music and visual arts. Results will be available in 2009.
The U.S. Department of Education has two documents to provide guidance and further information about arts assessment. The first is the 1997 Arts Education Assessment Framework intended to guide assessment in each of the art areas (http://www.nagb.org/pubs/artsed.pdf), and the second is a Web report entitled Developing An Arts Assessment: Some Selected Strategies, which offers strategies for using performance assessment in the arts (http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pubs/strategies/).
Project Zero
http://www.pz.harvard.edu/Research/ResearchAssess.htm
Based at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education, Project Zero has conducted a variety of projects that examined assessment in the arts. There are two arts-specific projects related to assessment:
California Organizations and Efforts Addressing Arts Assessment
The California Arts Project (TCAP) is an excellent statewide resource for teacher professional development in arts assessment. More information about their summer institutes and other professional development opportunities is available at http://csmp.ucop.edu/tcap/index.php. In addition, TCAP is currently collecting statewide data about the allotment and use of the state block grants for the arts and physical education. More information about this project is available at http://csmp.ucop.edu/tcap//maximizingnewresources/.
California Alliance for Arts Education (CAAE) www.artsed411.org
The CAAE produced a 2008 policy paper about accountability in the arts in California schools. A copy of the paper is available in PDF format at http://www.artsed411.org/advocate/papers.aspx.
California Arts Assessment Network (CAAN) http://www.teachingarts.org/CAAN/
This organization provides leadership and resources in arts assessment in California. Membership is at the school or district level. Resources include an assessment item pool, which provides assessment questions in each of the arts, and Multiple Measures I & II, which offer assessment across grades and art forms. More information is available at their Web site.
California Department of Education (CDE) Visual and Performing Arts
http://www.cde.ca.gov/pd/ca/vp/vapaguidance.asp
The California Visual and Performing Arts Framework includes a chapter on arts assessment. The Framework is available in PDF at http://www.cde.ca.gov/re/pn/fd/documents/vpa.pdf.
The CDE published an introductory guide to arts assessment, Prelude to Performance Assessment in the Arts: Kindergarten through Grade Twelve (1993). This can be purchased for $8.50 from the CDE directly at http://www.cde.ca.gov/re/pn/rc/ap/pubdisplay.aspx?ID=001119.
Visual Art Assessment
The Art of Teaching the Arts is an online video workshop series for high school visual art teachers from Annenberg Media. The one-hour workshop session “Nurturing Independent Thinkers” focuses on student assessment. More information, as well as the online video, is available at http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/hsarts/program8/.
ArtsWork at Arizona State University has visual art assessment information and rubrics available on their Web site at http://artswork.asu.edu/arts/teachers/assessment/index.htm.
The California Art Education Association has two publications available for purchase on visual art assessment. They are In the Process: A Visual Arts Portfolio Assessment Pilot Project ($10.50, includes postage and tax) and Into the Portfolio Process-A Handbook for Portfolio Assessment in the Visual Arts ($17.50, includes postage and tax). For more information and to place an order, contact Donna Banning of the CAEA at dbanning@telis.org.
The Center for Educator Development in Fine Arts has information about performance assessment and rubrics for visual arts on their Web page at http://www.cedfa.org/teaching/index.php?file=assessment/perf_assessment.php&expand=4,17.
Connecting with the Arts is an online video workshop series for middle school teachers from Annenberg Media. The one-hour workshop session “Identifying What Students Are Learning” focuses on student assessment in the arts. More information, as well as the online video, is available at http://www.cedfa.org/teaching/index.php?file=assessment/perf_assessment.php&expand=4,17.
The National Art Education Association offers a number of publications about assessment in visual art on their Web site at http://www.naea-reston.org/assessment.html.
The Rhode Island Art Learning Network is a statewide resource for arts learning, including information on assessment in each of the art areas and proficiency standards in the arts for high school graduation. More information is available at http://www.riartslearning.net/.
Seattle Public Schools have a Web page on visual art instruction and assessment at http://www.seattleschools.org/area/arts/visualarts/index.dxml.
Music Assessment
The Art of Teaching the Arts is an online video workshop series for high school music teachers from the Annenberg Channel. The one-hour workshop session “Nurturing Independent Thinkers” focuses on student assessment. More information, as well as the online video, is available at http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/hsarts/program8/.
ArtsWork at Arizona State University has music assessment information and rubrics available on their Web site at http://artswork.asu.edu/arts/teachers/assessment/index.htm.
Center for Educator Development in Fine Arts has information about performance assessment and rubrics for music on their Web page at http://www.cedfa.org/teaching/index.php?file=assessment/perf_assessment.php&expand=4,17.
Connecting with the Arts is an online video workshop series for middle school teachers from Annenberg Media. The one-hour workshop session “Identifying What Students Are Learning” focuses on student assessment in the arts. More information, as well as the online video, is available at http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/connectarts68/index.html.
Dr. Edward Asmus at the University of Miami has created music assessment tools that are available for download at http://www.music.miami.edu/assessment/.
Integrating Curriculum, Theory and Practice: A Symposium on Assessment in Music Education. These conference proceedings will be published in 2009. More information is available at http://conferences.dce.ufl.edu/isame/default.aspx?page=233.
Learning Through Music Assessment at the Conservatory Lab Charter School. This Web site outlines how this school assesses early elementary students in music. http://arts4learning.org/supportmaterial.aspx?smid=3048
“Music– A Resource Guide for Standards-Based Instruction” outlines instruction and assessment in music. The New York State Education Department created this PDF document and it is available on their Web site at http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/cores.htm#3ela.
The Music and Literacy Connection (2004) by Dee Hansen, Elaine Bernstorf, and Gayle M. Stuber. Published by the National Association for Music Education. The focus of this book is on music education for preschool and early elementary students. There is a chapter that covers music assessment and includes sample tools for teachers to use.
Music in Education National Consortium has a digital portfolio Web site of a variety of music projects in schools. Viewers can examine the projects from start to finish and each project includes an assessment section. http://digitalportfolios.music-in-education.org
“Performance Standards for Music: Assessment Strategies” is available at the National Association for Music Education’s Web site for preK–12 grade levels. Available at http://menc.org/resources/view/performance-standards-for-music-introduction.
The Rhode Island Art Learning Network is a statewide resource for arts learning, including information on assessment in each of the art areas and proficiency standards in the arts for high school graduation. More information is available at http://www.riartslearning.net/.
Rubrics Cube Framework – developed by the Music in Education National Consortium, this framework is an approach to integrating learning, teaching, and assessing into a comprehensive unified whole. More information about this framework is available in the Journal for Music-in-Education at http://journal.music-in-education.org/pdfs/JMIE2007_PartFour_Full.pdf.
Seattle Public Schools have a Web page on music instruction and assessment at http://www.seattleschools.org/area/arts/visualarts/index.dxml.
Society for Research in Music Education’s Special Research Interest Group in Assessment at http://assessment.webhop.org/.
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction has information for educators about grading and assessment in music at http://dpi.wi.gov/cal/mugrdinstess.html.
Dance Assessment
The Art of Teaching the Arts is an online video workshop series for high school dance teachers from the Annenberg Channel. The one-hour workshop session “Nurturing Independent Thinkers” focuses on student assessment. More information, as well as the online video, is available at http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/hsarts/program8/.
Assessing Dance in Elementary Physical Education by Theresa Purcell Cone and Stephen L. Cone (2005) outlines dance assessment for elementary teachers. In addition to samples of assessment tools, this book provides a sample curricular unit in dance with an assessment component. Published by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education.
“Authentic Assessment in the Arts: Empowering Students and Teachers” by Dale W. Schmid (2003) in The Journal of Dance Education, Volume 3, Issue 2. This article includes rubrics for dance assessment
http://www.nj.gov/education/njpep/classroom/arts_assessment/worddocs/Schmid_article.pdf.
The Center for Educator Development in Fine Arts has information about performance assessment and rubrics for dance on their Web page at http://www.cedfa.org/teaching/index.php?file=assessment/perf_assessment.php&expand=4,17.
Connecting with the Arts is an online video workshop series for middle school teachers from Annenberg Media. The one-hour workshop session “Identifying What Students Are Learning” focuses on student assessment in the arts. More information, as well as the online video, is available at http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/connectarts68/index.html.
Dance Teaching Methods and Curriculum Design: Comprehensive K-12 Dance Education (2003) by Gayle Kassing and Danielle M. Jay, includes a chapter “Selecting the Appropriate Assessment Tools for Dance.” It provides pragmatic guidance on creating a variety of assessment tools, including rubrics, checklists, and written tests. Published by Human Kinetics.
Resources from Dance Education Web’s assessment and curriculum page at http://danceducationweb.org/curriculum.html.
Information and sample rubrics for dance assessment are available from the New York City Department of Education’s Office of Arts and Special Projects. Available at http://schools.nyc.gov/offices/teachlearn/arts/c+a_assessments.html.
The Public Schools of North Carolina provide a dance rubric for grades 3-12 on their Web site. This rubric can be formative or summative and is intended to be used for dance compositions. For more information, please visit http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/curriculum/artsed/resources/handbook/dance/14creative.
The Rhode Island Art Learning Network is a statewide resource for arts learning, including information on assessment in each of the art areas and proficiency standards in the arts for high school graduation. More information is available at http://www.riartslearning.net/.
Seattle Public Schools have a Web page on dance instruction and assessment at http://www.seattleschools.org/area/arts/visualarts/index.dxml.
Schaeffer, C. (2006). Journal this! Dance Spirit, 10, 61-63. This succinct article outlines reflection prompts to use with dance students as a self-assessment.
Theatre/Drama Assessment
The Art of Teaching the Arts is an online video workshop series for high school theatre teachers from Annenberg Media. The one-hour workshop session “Nurturing Independent Thinkers” focuses on student assessment. More information, as well as the online video, is available at http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/hsarts/program8/.
ArtsWork at Arizona State University has theatre assessment information and rubrics available on their Web site at http://artswork.asu.edu/arts/teachers/assessment/index.htm.
Center for Educator Development in Fine Arts has information about performance assessment and rubrics for theatre on their Web page at http://www.cedfa.org/teaching/index.php?file=assessment/perf_assessment.php&expand=4,17.
Connecting with the Arts is an online video workshop series for middle school teachers from Annenberg Media. The one-hour workshop session “Identifying What Students Are Learning” focuses on student assessment in the arts. More information, as well as the online video, is available at http://www.learner.org/channel/workshops/connectarts68/index.html
The Rhode Island Art Learning Network is a statewide resource for arts learning, including information on assessment in each of the art areas and proficiency standards in the arts for high school graduation. More information is available at http://www.riartslearning.net/.
Seattle Public Schools have a Web page on theatre instruction and assessment at http://www.seattleschools.org/area/arts/visualarts/index.dxml.
TEAM: Theatre Education Assessment Models. Created by Theatre Communications Group (TCG), these models were not developed for a specific context (only for schools or only for informal learning contexts) but were intended to create tools to be used in a variety of settings. More information is available at http://www.tcg.org/tools/education/teams/TEAMindex.cfm.
“Theatre – A Resource Guide for Standards-Based Instruction” outlines instruction and assessment in theatre. The New York State Education Department created this document and it is available on their Web site at http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/ciai/arts/pub/Theatrestandeic.pdf.
Additional Arts Assessment Tools and Materials
Arts Impact. This organization has developed performance-based learning assessment tools that are available on their Web site. More information is available at http://www.arts-impact.org/assessment/.
Arts for All, the arts education effort in Los Angeles, has some links to potential assessment tools and sites http://tools.laartsed.org/search.aspx.
ArtsEdge at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., is a database of resources for arts education. Their resources include A Guide to Authentic Assessments. More information is available at http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/teach/hto.cfm.
The Center for Children & Technology’s Web site hosts an article “Contextual Arts Education Assessment: Counting in Context” by Terry Baker. More information is available at http://cct.edc.org/report_summary.asp?numPublicationId=182.
The New Hampshire Department of Education has a number of online resources for the development and implementation of arts assessment in general. More information is available at http://www.ed.state.nh.us/education/doe/organization/curriculum/Arts/Arts.htm.
The Rhode Island Art Learning Network is a statewide resource for arts learning, including information on assessment in each of the art areas and proficiency standards in the arts for high school graduation. More information is available at http://www.riartslearning.net/.
The state of South Carolina is assessing the arts statewide through Web-based assessment. More information is available at http://scaap.ed.sc.edu/.
“The New Bloom’s Taxonomy: Implications for Music Education” by Wendell Hanna, published by Arts Education Policy Review (2007) examines the national standards in music education through the revised Bloom’s taxonomy. The article is an approach towards a more objective assessment of the arts, particularly music.
The New Hampshire Alliance for Arts Education outlines the steps in evaluating arts education programs in schools. More information is at http://www.nhaae.org/ptk/justification/evaluation.html.
The New England Arts Assessment Network has an excellent online annotation of assessment resources, including models, rubrics, and professional development. A PDF of this document is available at http://www.barrfoundation.org/usr_doc/New_England_Arts_Assessment_Network_-_Annotated_Resource_List.pdf.
The New York State Alliance for Arts Education’s Toolkit for Teaching the Arts contains a section on evaluation and assessment. This provides a brief introduction to evaluation and assessment in the arts as well as links to other resources and tools. Available at http://www.nysaae.org/toolkit/evalution.htm.
The Ohio Department of Education has a brief summary about research and arts assessment http://ims.ode.state.oh.us/ode/ims/rrt/research/Content/Instruction_Learning_What_We_Know.asp.
Washington’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction has a variety of arts assessment tools and information available at http://www.k12.wa.us/Assessment/WASL/Arts/default.aspx.
Additional References
Arts Work: A Call for Arts Education for All California Students. This report documents recommendations from the Superintendent’s Task Force on the Visual and Performing Arts. http://www.cde.ca.gov/pd/ca/vp/vapaguidance.asp
Assessing Achievement in the Arts
By Malcolm Ross, Hilary Radnor, Sally Mitchell, and Cathy Bierton (1993)
Published by Open University Press
Assessing Expressive Learning: A Practical Guide for Teacher-Directed Authentic Assessment in K-12 Visual Arts Education.
By Charles M. Dorn, Stanley S. Madeja, & F. Robert Sabol (2004)
Published by Lawrence Erlbaum Associates
Assessment in Art Education
By Donna Kay Beattie (1997)
Published by Davis Publications
Assessment in Arts Education
by Philip Taylor (2006)
Published by Heinemann
Authentic Assessment in the Arts: Empowering Students and Teachers
By Dale W. Schmid (2003)
Journal of Dance Education, Volume 3, Issue 2
http://www.nj.gov/education/njpep/classroom/arts_assessment/worddocs/Schmid_article.pdf
The Co-Arts Assessment Handbook
By Jessica Davis (1993)
Available from Project Zero at http://www.pz.harvard.edu/ebookstore/detail.cfm?pub_id=7
Designing Assessment in Art
By Carmen L. Armstrong (1994)
Available from the National Art Education Association at www.naea-reston.org
Developing an Arts Assessment: Some Selected Strategies
National Assessment of Educational Progress http://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/pubs/strategies/
Envisioning Arts Assessment
By Nancy Pistone (2002)
Published by the Arts Education Partnership and Council of Chief State Schools Officers
Available as a PDF at http://www.aep-arts.org/publications/info.htm?publication_id=11.
Evaluating and Assessing the Visual Arts in Education
Edited by Doug Boughton, Elliot W. Eisner, and Johan Ligtvoet (1996)
Published by Teachers College Press
An unfinished canvas. Allocating funding and instructional time for elementary arts education.
By H.A. Gallagher, A.Z. Campbell, C.E. Esch, H. Malin, N. Mayes, & K.R. Woodworth
Menlo Park, CA: SRI International
Handbook of Research and Policy in Art Education
Edited by Elliott Eisner and Michael Day (2004)
International Handbook of Research in Arts Education
Edited by Liora Bresler (2007)
Springer (publishers)
Measuring up to the challenge: What standards and assessment can do for arts education
Ruth Mitchell, editor (1994)
Available from Americans for the Arts at http://ww2.americansforthearts.org/vango/core/orders/product.aspx?catid=3&prodid=196
The Problem of Assessment in Art and Design
Edited by Trevor Rayment (2007)
Published by Intellect Books, The University of Chicago Press
Renaissance in the Classroom: Arts Integration and Meaningful Learning
Edited by Gail Burnaford, Arnold Aprill, Cynthia Weiss, and Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education (CAPE)
Published by Lawrence Erlbaum Associates (2001)
Studio Thinking
By Lois Hetland, Ellen Winner, Shirley Veenema, & Kimberly M. Sheridan (2007)
Published by Teachers College Press
Taking full measure: Rethinking assessment through the arts
by Dennie Palmer Wolf & Nancy Pistone (1991)
Published by College Entrance Examination Board
The Wheel in Motion: The Co-Arts Assessment Plan from Theory to Practice
By Jessica Davis, B. Solomon, M. Eppel, & W. Dameshek (1996)
|
