This week I have done a lot of reading and reflecting on assessments in art education. When I was in middle school I remember the thought of an assessment used to fill me with fear. Almost all of my assessments took the form of critiques, there was no variation in how we were graded. Now that I am in the classroom teaching I notice how ineffective it can be to only assess students using one strategy. There was never any room for self reflection. In my future classroom I intend to use a wide variety of assessment strategies such as computer portfolios, exhibitions, student self assessments, integrated performances, sketchbook journals and group discussions. I intend to help students understand that assessments don't have to be something they are afraid of. Instead my students will see assessments as a way to further their learning and help them self reflect upon their learning.
The artwork I created above reflects what assignments can be vs. what they should be. What they can be is black and white, boring and expected but assessments should be colorful, exciting and unique to the lesson they are for.
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