University of Nebraska Kearney

General Studies Program Assessment Plan: Humanities: ART 120

General Studies Assessment Plan

Department: Art and Art History

Department General Studies Course: ART 120 – Art Appreciation 

1. Learning Objectives Being Assessed
   
   General Studies Humanities Objectives currently being assessed for ART 120 are:
   
   
   • the ability to comprehend primary texts
   • the ability to use, in writing, the forms of reference and the manners of discourse appropriate to the particular discipline
   • the ability to see primary texts as cultural descriptions as well as individual creation
      
   
   All sections of the Assessment Test (headings A-E), described below, address the ability to comprehend primary texts. Questions under the headings A and C address the ability to use, in writing, the forms of reference and the manners of discourse appropriate to the particular discipline. Questions under the headings B and D address the ability to see primary texts as cultural descriptions as well as individual creation.
   
   General Studies Objectives currently being assessed for ART 120 are:
   
   
   • the capability for critical thinking, reasoning and analyzing
   • an understanding of the experiences and values of group and cultures which are historically under-represented
      
   
   Aesthetics Objectives currently being assessed for ART 120 are:
   
   
   • the ability to identify elements, styles and idioms of a given art form using discipline-specific terminology and a basic knowledge of the creative process
   • the ability to place aesthetic works in the historical, political, social or philosophical context which gives rise to their creation
   • the ability to interpret exemplary aesthetic works
      
    
2. Description of Assessment Measures
   
   ART 120 is currently assessed using one direct measure. The Assessment Test is an instrument consisting of 20 multiple choice questions, each accompanied by a slide image, and 10 true/false questions, without images. All ART 120 sections use the same test. Course instructors may choose their own textbook but the core content of ART 120 remains constant. This assessment instrument was developed by a committee consisting of three instructors using three different texts. The Assessment Test consists of questions and images that were agreed to be core concepts and artworks for ART 120. The version of the Assessment Test used in 2006 was a revised version of the initial test - several questions were re-examined and confusing or ambiguous phrasing was edited; some minor adjustments to content were also made. The coding of the Learning Objectives continued to be included on the Instructor’s Version of the edited Assessment Test, and to be used in the analysis of the data. This version of the test will continue to be used for the 2007 academic year and its efficacy will be again re-evaluated after the end of the Spring 2008 term.

Other Revisions to the Assessment Process

Almost all the instructors have achieved the aim, stated in the 2006 Assessment Report, of increasing student accountability by given the assessment test for credit.

To further address the General Studies Humanities Objectives, a second part will be added to the assessment process in the 2008 Spring term: the ART 120 Assessment Image Analysis Test. This will be another direct measure, also given at the end of the term (in conjunction with the Assessment Test, or separately). It will consist of a written response to one image requiring the students to write a brief analysis of form and interpretation of content. It will be a further assessment of the General Studies Humanities Objectives:

• the ability to comprehend primary texts
• the ability to use, in writing, the forms of reference and the manners of discourse appropriate to the particular discipline
• the ability to see primary texts as cultural descriptions as well as individual creation

It will also be a further assessment of the General Studies Objective, the capacity for critical thinking , reasoning and analyzing; and two of the Aesthetics Objectives, as described on the appended, coded copy of the test and rubric.

Because individual instructors decide which particular images on which to concentrate to emphasize form, interpretation and cultural context, the same questions will be used with different images in each section.

An assessment of student outcomes with respect to the ability to use, in speaking, the forms of reference and the manners of discourse appropriate to the particular discipline, is being considered for inclusion in future Student Outcomes assessment activities. Due to class size, and the format of exams, this would require a separate exercise and rubric.

Assessment Schedule and Sampling

The original goal was to assess at least one section for each instructor every academic year. The current goal is to include every section of ART 120 in the assessment. A separate section of Art Appreciation is now accommodating the Honors students (ART 120-H). This is assessed in the same manner as the non-Honors sections.

2007

Previous Plan, Replaced Fall 2007