University of Nebraska Kearney

Art and Art History Graduate Program Assessment Report 2006

Submitted Fall, 2006

NCA Assessment Report
Art Education Graduate Program
2005-2006

The newly revised Art Education Graduate program for the academic year 2005-2006 reports the following:

Total number of students who applied: 8
Number of students accepted: 2
Incomplete applications: 4
Student withdrawals: 2

Learning Objectives

Through the graduate program in art education, the student will have:

1. an understanding of the history, theories and philosophies of art education. 
2. an advanced knowledge of pedagogical practices in art education. 
3. skills and knowledge to appropriately utilize technology in the classroom and for research. 
4. an understanding of methods for teaching diverse populations including special needs students, adult students and culturally diverse populations. 
5. the knowledge necessary to become leaders in their field, pursue a productive career, and/or further their education through a terminal degree. 
6. the research and writing skills necessary to produce a scholarly research paper or thesis in art education. 
7. a continued pursuit of education in art studio, aesthetics, art criticism and art history. 
8. an understanding of the content area. 
9. the dispositions necessary to teach art in a democratic society.

Description of the direct and indirect measures used to assess

Direct measures of student competencies and needs

In the framework of the program courses graduate faculty will implement specific direct measures of graduate level student competencies which will include qualitative analysis (when appropriate) and a quantitative evaluation of the following:

Research Paper or Thesis

Research paper or thesis as determined by advanced criteria and assessed by the graduate committee.

Oral and/or Formal Examinations

Oral and/or formal examinations over course work and research paper or thesis.

Exhibition

Quality of exhibition (if chosen) at the graduate level.

Placement

Number of students teaching art education in P-K through 12. Number of students teaching in post secondary schools. Number of students in a related education field.

Candidate Dispositions

Indirect Measures of student competencies and needs

The department of Art and Art History graduate assessment committee will also implement indirect measures of student’s success.  These will include exit surveys and alumni surveys to determine:

Exit Survey

Prior to graduating with the MA. Ed. - Art Education, students will be asked to complete an exit survey which also reflects evaluative criteria determined by the graduate assessment committee.

Alumni Survey

Graduate alumni will be asked to assess the effectiveness of UNK's Art and Art History Department (Art Education) in preparing them for the field of art education. The survey will provide the art department with student's perceptions on the quality of their educational experience. They will be provided opportunities to assess their level of preparation for entering the workforce or for continuing in their jobs or in their pursuit of an advanced degree. An alumni survey will be distributed on an annual or semi-annual basis (as determined by the committee) which contains evaluative criteria deemed pertinent by the graduate assessment committee.

Supplemental Assessment

Grading

Reporting of the data collected

Since this is a newly revised program and due to the small number of students, no analysis or reporting of data was done.  A full assessment report will be completed next year using data from previous years and the 06-07 academic year.

Interpretation of the data

Because no data was collected, there is no interpretation.  This will be included in the 2007 report.

Actions to be taken based on the data

No actions at this time.  Data will be collected during the 2006-2007 academic year.  The fall 2007 report will be analyzed for actions.

Evaluation of the current assessment process

When evaluation of the program takes place during the 2006-2007 academic year a review by the art department’s graduate committee of the evaluation process will take place.

Assessment of the Assessment

The Department of Art and Art History graduate faculty assessment committee will review the assessment material annually to ascertain the following information:

1. if the assessments adequately evaluate the stated learning objectives. 
2. implications of the program that are suggested by the assessment data. 
3. the effectiveness of or the need for restructuring the current assessment plan.

Actions to be taken in making changes to the assessment process

The actions are contingent upon the 2006-2007evaluation by the art department’s graduate committee.
Modifications indicated by the results of the assessment review will be implemented in our academic program when feasible. The assessment plan will also be modified as necessary in an effort to improve its effectiveness.