ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES IN GENERAL EDUCATION
THE ARTS 2004-2005          

The assessment of the arts is based upon best practices and the expertise of arts instructors from art education, performing arts, fine arts/art history and design.

General Education Arts requirement:

• All students are required to take two courses from a list of designated arts courses. Courses are chosen because they meet the general education learning outcome in the arts.

I.	Outcomes/Objectives
	Students will demonstrate understanding of at least one principal form of artistic expression and the creative process inherent therein.
	Students will develop a repertoire of ideas about basic practices of one art form and how choosing materials, techniques and styles communicate meaning. Students will demonstrate an aesthetic understanding of one or more of the artistic disciplines and the creative process therein. Students will develop or recognize basic technique and an aesthetic understanding of the basic form of a particular discipline. Students will make concrete their artistic ideas, thoughts and feelings, in recognition of the subjective as well as objective impulse that artistic endeavor embodies, be able to identify the difference and articulate an informed response about values of the work.
II.	Student Performance
	Students in all arts courses designated as general education will be provided with the outcome/objectives at the start of the semester.  Students will be asked to compile portfolios throughout the semester that include coursework that they believe is illustrative of the learning objectives. These portfolios will be turned in at the end of the semester. (The portfolios will typically include essays, presentations, works of art (or slides thereof), exams and other materials that demonstrate that they have met the learning objectives).
III.	Assessment Criteria/Standards
	The portfolios will be evaluated by three outside faculty readers (not including the student’s instructor) according to a rubric that reflects the identified learning objectives. No student identification will be attached to the portfolios. All faculty member evaluators will use the attached rubric to evaluate portfolios. Before evaluation takes place, all faculty evaluators will meet and randomly evaluate the same 5 portfolios according to the rubric to assess inter-observer reliability.  Adjustments and discussion will occur as necessary.
IV.	Students Assessed
	Portfolios of five students randomly chosen from each general education art core course will be assessed according to the learning objectives.  This will yield a sample size of approximately N=150.
V.	Feedback
	The results of this assessment will be discussed yearly at regular meetings of the faculty who teach core arts courses and action taken where deemed appropriate.

ARTS RUBRIC

4.  Exceeds the standard

• Demonstrates an understanding of technique through practice or description
• Demonstrates an understanding of materials through practice or description
• Demonstrates a knowledge of the traditions of one art form
• Demonstrates an understanding of how materials, techniques and style interact ot create meaning
• Demonstrates personal insight resulting from analysis and synthesis

3.  Meets the standard

• Demonstrates an understanding of technique through practice or description.
• Demonstrates an understanding of materials through practice or description.
• Demonstrates an awareness of the traditions of one art form
• Demonstrates an understanding of how materials, techniques and style interact to create meaning

2.  Approaches the standard

• Demonstrates an understanding of technique through practice or description
• Demonstrates an understanding of materials through practice or description
• Demonstrates an awareness of the traditions of one art form

1.  Below the standard

• Demonstrates an understanding of technique through practice or description.
• Demonstrates an understanding of materials through practice or description.