Submitted Fall, 2004
The UNK Theatre faculty reviewed tech/design portfolios late in the semester. The students' portfolios for the review included:
- All projects produced specifically for Design/Tech class requirements.
- Concept statements and writing samples from those classes
- Classroom projects with supporting paperwork
- Shop-produced special projects
- Realized design work with relative paperwork and photographs
- Letter of recommendation about their work
- Published reviews about the work or project
- Resume/vita
The above portfolio was then assessed individually by Theatre faculty using the Theatre Design and Technology Assessment Rubric which had been created for the sole purpose of this assessment.
The students also signed up for individual review/feedback from the Theatre faculty.
Four students were reviewed and assessed. It was assessed that two out of the four had specific talent in the field of design. One student showed major strength in technology but not in realized designs. The fourth student was much earlier in the program and needed to focus on one element of design over another. The four students were very diverse in their work, their talents and their focus.
According to the rubric and averaging out the Faculty responses, the following was concluded. The numerical order reflects the lowest skills (1) to the highest skills accomplished (4). If a copy of the rubric is needed, it will be provided.
Individual Objectives:
- Individual Project preparation, research and analysis:
1: 0 2:1 3:1 4: 2
The results showed that the more advanced and focused the student is on design, the better their portfolio presentation.
- Indivudual Project paperwork, supporting documentation, renderings and drawings:
1: 0 2: 2 3: 1 4: 1
The results showed that again, the more focused the student was on their individual track, design or tech, was also reflected in their supporting documentation of said work.
- Individual implementation process, technique, or results.
1: 0 2: 2 3: 0 4: 2
The results showed that the two students who were lacking a strong focus in design also consistently had details missing in their projects. The other two students were consistent with having all elements and details included in their work, with some work going beyond what was required. Two students showed a strong talent for design. One student showed talent in costume design. The other student reflected his talent in set and lights.
- Portfolio, resume and supporting documentation for individual projects:
1: 0 2: 1 3: 2 4: 1
All four students assessed need assistance in putting together their portfolio; i.e. aid in knowing what is needed and how to present the designs and technical work. The portfolios were good, just not complete.
When the student is passionate about their design or technical project, the supporting materials reflect this excitement, talent and work. All the students need guidance on detail work both in their projects and in their paperwork. The farther along the student is in the UNK Theatre program, the better their portfolio. The students need assistance helping to focus on their main track, design or technology. The classes offered at UNK Theatre cover all the basic foundation information for design and tech and give the students what they need in order to realize a design or technology project. The students all lacked resume/vitas in their portfolios.
As of this date, there has been no direct action taken as a result of this assessment. However, in the future, the Theatre Design/Technology Faculty will be more involved in aiding students in their portfolio presentation. The faculty will implement an early-on discussion with incoming design/tech student about which track they want to study in order for them to have a stronger focus from the start. The career preparation course will cover portfolio preparation as well as resume and vitae preparation. More attention to detail will be an emphasis in all future design/tech classes.
The Design Faculty posted the Theatre Tech/Design Portfolio Review sign on the Theatre callboard in late November 2003 to prepare the students for the April 29th 2004 review. This was a perfect amount of time for the students had plenty of notice to prepare their portfolios. The Theatre Faculty are in accord that the rubric created for the assessment along with the individual review/feedback sessions met the criteria set out in the initial Theatre assessment plan. There are no changes in the Design/Technology assessment of UNK Theatre students at this time.