This on-line, graduate level course examines approaches to assessment in the arts to engage teachers and learners in a more meaningful process of observation, reflection, and analysis of student work for learning in and through the arts. The course will interrogate traditional assessment and grading practices and aims to guide teachers toward a more meaningful approach to assessment that can serve students in their specific learning contexts. Assessment can be meaningful and can lead to deeper learning, positive engagement, and increased motivation through the development of autonomy, competence, and relatedness. This asynchronous course allows students to work at their own pace using online delivery of materials and development of assignments for each week. Students will work collaboratively using discussion forums and peer review of assignments. Students will have the option to meet online with the instructor 1:1 or in small groups to address specific questions, applications, and areas of interest. Students… Develop a critical approach to assessment in the arts that aims to reduce inherent bias and exclusive practices. Engage with assessment as a generative process, a means of continued development, and deepening learning. Evaluate and refine current assessment tools and practices. Design assessment tools relevant to their teaching context, student needs, and core concepts of the discipline. Topic Include: Assessment versus Grading Formative and Summative Assessments in the Arts Asset-Minded Approaches to Assessment Assessment OF, FOR, and AS learning Developing learning targets as points of assessment using the NCAS Artistic Processes and National Standards. Integrating district, state, and school wide assessment requirements in meaningful ways Using Instructional Supports as Assessment Tools Assessing student learning in the arts through: creative processes, project-based learning, self and peer assessment activities, student designed learning targets and assessment criteria, portfolio development Technology Integration for Arts Assessment

There is no required textbook for this course. Course readings will be provided by the instructor. Students complete readings with responses in various forms: writing, audio, video, creative responses etc... Students attend to ongoing discussion forums with peers Students develop new and revise existing assessment tools based on their unique teaching settings and grading requirements etc... Students integrate feedback from ongoing assessments into future coursework.

Grading and assessment will be a collaborative process between the instructor and student, based upon critical reflection of artifacts and learning processes.