University of Nebraska Kearney

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Art and Art History Assessment Plan (Replaced F07)

 

Direct Measures

All majors in programs administered by the department of art and art history must take Art 425, Aesthetics, with the exception of those pursuing the BA Studio Art Option. Art History majors must take Art 440, Special Problems in Art History. Art Studio, Visual Communication and Art Education majors are required to complete Art 499, Senior Exhibit. Art Education majors are also required to spend a semester student teaching. Art 499, Art 440, Art 425 and student teaching will provide the forum for the implementation of most of the departmental assessment tools.

In the context of these classes specific measures of undergraduate competencies will include the following: 

Senior Research Papers

Art majors enrolled in Art 425, Critical Perspectives (formerly Aesthetics) and Art History majors enrolled in Art 440 (Special Problems in Art History) will complete a research paper as part of the requirements of the course. A random sample of senior research papers will be evaluated by a team of two faculty, excluding the course instructor. These research papers will be reviewed for specific content that suggests the attainment of departmental learning objectives set down in this assessment plan.

Objective 

Participants 

Evaluators 

1, 2, 3, 4 

random sampling of all majors
except BA Studio option

team of two faculty
using Research Paper Review Form 

Senior Exhibition and Portfolio Reviews 

With the exception of Art History all majors in programs administered by the art department must take Art 499 (Senior Exhibit). Students who take this course will be expected take part in an oral critique session open to all of the art faculty (with the exception of graphic design students*). Students are expected to defend their work and provide evidence of their understanding of aesthetics and art history. In response to each critique and to each student's exhibition of work faculty complete the Senior Exhibition/Portfolio Review rubric.

*The process varies for Visual Communication and Design students whose portfolios and senior projects are evaluated by a team of faculty and at least one independent reviewer during the senior exhibit course (Art 499).

Objective 

Participants 

Evaluators 

1, 2, 3, 4, 56, 7 

all majors except Art History

a team of faculty
using Senior Exhibition/Portfolio Review Form 

Art Education Student Teaching Evaluations 

The UNK college of education evaluates student teaching performance in the areas of lesson planning (learning objectives 1 and 2), assessment and evaluation (learning objective 7), instructional planning, instructional delivery (objective 3, 4 and 5), and classroom management (objectives 5 and 7). The data generated in connection with these evaluations will be incorporated into the department of art assessment report as a direct measure of student teaching performance. Student teachers will also be evaluated on discipline specific content through the departments other direct and indirect measures.

Objective 

Participants 

Evaluators 

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 

all Art Education majors

student, supervising teacher and cooperating teacher
using Student Teacher Evaluation Forms and Rubrics 

 

Indirect Measures 

Alumni Surveys

An instrument measuring alumni perceptions regarding preparation for a career or further education in their discipline and provision of skills and knowledge in the use of technology. The survey will also be used to help determine graduate placement in educational or professional settings.

Objective 

Participants 

Evaluators 

1, 2, 5, 6, 7 

some alumni using Alumni Survey 

faculty

 

Supplemental Assessment 

Competitive Activity 

Faculty will make available evidence of student recognition such as the results of competitive exhibitions, internships and juried publications. The information is compiled into an annotated listing of such recognition and is included in the assessment report as an indirect measure of learning outcomes related to learning objective 7.

Objective 

Participants 

Evaluators 

7 

some majors

faculty

 

Assessment of Assessment Process

The department assessment committee will review the assessment material annually in an attempt to ascertain the following information:

  • how our students are performing with regard to our stated learning objectives
  • implications about our program that are suggested by the assessment data
  • the effectiveness of the current assessment plan

Modifications indicated by the results of the assessment review will be implemented in our academic program. The assessment plan will also be modified in an effort to improve its effectiveness.