Journal Entry #7

Journal 7: Why do we assess learning in art? How can learning to self-assess in art transfer to other subject areas? Life endeavors?

We assess learning in art because students need to have some idea of their areas of strength and the areas that need improvement in their learning. Students, especially young students, have to see what they are good at and what they need to work at. Assessing art in any form (visual art, drama, dance, creative writing…) is a very difficult task for any teacher because it is inevitably a subjective practice. We all have our own opinions and preferences for everything in life and whether it is conscious or subconscious, these affect the way we view art.

I enjoyed the part of the article that talked about criterion referencing. It’s hard not to compare Child A’s painting to Child B’s painting, especially when they are painting the same picture. With all that we learned about holistic approaches, though, it is important to remember that all children are at different levels with their learning. All children are strong at certain things and weak at other things. It’s crucial to remember to have a holistic approach towards the assessment of children’s artwork.

This assessment theory can apply to much more than just artistic assessment. It’s important to remember in math, science, language arts, physical education, etc. that all children develop and learn at different paces. If we compare Child A’s ability to play soccer to Child B’s, then we are not taking into account the individuality of each student. It’s also good as a teacher to remember that whether it is intentional or not, we bring our own opinions and preferences to the table when we mark any type of activity (not just art). It is important to attempt objectivity as a teacher, but no one is ever completely objective.

These principles are important to remember in everyday life as well. Everyone, children and adults, learn at different rates and we all have weaknesses and strengths. Whether we like it or not, we give a subjective opinion when we see the rates of learning, the weaknesses, and the strengths of the people around us. I think that once we are aware of these things, we can give greater attention to our own behavior. We can be more patient with the slow learners or those who are good at different things. This is a great practice to apply not only to our classrooms but the people in our lives.