AISLING ROCK
Artist | Teacher | Researcher
Assessment
“In the right hands, assessment can inspire, motivate and provide the feedback that is essential for targeting prompt, corrective help. But it can also lead us to ignore what cannot easily be measured” - (Petty, 2014).
Assessment is the process of gathering and recording student information to inform best practices in visual art development. Good assessment and feedback practices help students achieve goals, meet criteria, and meet standards. Engaging in high-quality assessment strategies helps learners grow and reach personal learning goals.
Formative Assessment
Formative assessment strategies in the art room can enhance young people's learning by providing critical feedback, allowing students to identify strengths and weaknesses, and taking ownership of their learning. These strategies, including observation, questioning, peer review, self-assessment, and feedback sessions, promote student learning and encourage risk-taking without focusing on final marks. This approach fosters motivation and active learning among students, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of their progress.
Summative Assessment
Summative assessment marks the end of a project, demonstrating students' knowledge and learning of the unit of learning. It can be achieved through final works of art, sketchbooks, and reflective practices. To make summative assessment more accessible and collaborative, co-creating success criteria, working with students to understand rubrics, providing meaningful feedback, and having individual discussions can help students understand the expectations. This will enable them to apply the skills and knowledge needed to empower their learning and successfully engage with summative assessment in future studies.