Improving the Assessment of Student Learning in the Arts ...

Improving the Assessment of Student Learning in the Arts ? State of the Field and Recommendations

Study Commissioned by The National Endowment for the Arts

Submitted to:

The National Endowment for the Arts 1100 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Suite 618 Washington, DC 20506

Submitted by:

Sharon A. Herpin, Senior Research Associate Adrienne Quinn Washington, Research Associate Jian Li, Research Associate

This report was commissioned by the National Endowment for the Arts.

The National Endowment for the Arts and WestEd would like to thank the following agencies for their support in the collection of data for this report:

American Alliance for Theater and Education, American Evaluation Association's Evaluating the Arts and Culture Topical Interest Group, the Council for Chief State School Officers/Arts Education Partnership, Cultural Arts Resources for Teachers and Students, the U.S. Department of Education, Education Theater Association, National Guild of Community Schools of the Arts, League of American Orchestras, National Alliance for Media Arts and Culture, National Arts Education Association, National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, National Dance Education Organization, MENC ? The National Association for Music Education, and the State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................................... i Executive Summary........................................................................................................................................................... ii Study Methodology .................................................................................................................................................................ii Findings .......................................................................................................................................................................................iv Recommendations ................................................................................................................................................................ vii

Chapter 1: Introduction and Overview .......................................................................................................... 1 Study Overview ................................................................................................................................................................... 2 The History of Assessment in the Arts ............................................................................................................................3

Chapter 2: Study Methodology.......................................................................................................................... 7 Study Methodology............................................................................................................................................................ 8 Defining Student Learning in the Arts ...........................................................................................................................8 Defining Assessment of Student Learning in the Arts.............................................................................................9 Data Collection Methods ......................................................................................................................................................9

Chapter 3: Review of the Literature............................................................................................................. 23 Literature Review ............................................................................................................................................................24 Assessment Tools...................................................................................................................................................................26 Collections of Assessment Tools .....................................................................................................................................29 Resources .................................................................................................................................................................................. 32 Informational Documents.................................................................................................................................................35 Technical Reports .................................................................................................................................................................39 Summary of Literature Review ......................................................................................................................................41

Chapter 4: Survey Findings ............................................................................................................................. 43 Arts Assessment from the Perspective of District and School Staff ............................................................44 Respondent Characteristics .............................................................................................................................................44 ArtsRelated Offerings ........................................................................................................................................................46 Experience with Assessment of Student Knowledge in the Arts......................................................................47 Experience with Assessment of Student Skills in the Arts .................................................................................. 50 Finding and Developing Artsrelated Assessment Tools.....................................................................................52 Identifying the Most Useful Assessment Tool...........................................................................................................53 Arts Assessment Needs among District and School Staff ................................................................................... 56 Arts Assessment from the Perspective of Policymakers, Arts and Cultural Organization Staff, and Researchers ........................................................................................................................................................................63 Respondent Characteristics .............................................................................................................................................63 ArtsRelated Offerings ........................................................................................................................................................65 Experience with Assessment of Student Knowledge in the Arts......................................................................66 Experience with Assessment of Student Skills in the Arts .................................................................................. 69 Finding and Developing Artsrelated Assessment Tools.....................................................................................72 Identifying the Most Useful Assessment Tool...........................................................................................................73 Arts Assessment Needs among Policymakers, arts and Cultural staff, and Researchers .................... 76 Summary of Perspectives on Student Assessment in the Arts ......................................................................85

Conclusion............................................................................................................................................................. 87 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................................................... 88 Improving the Assessment of Student Learning in the Arts..............................................................................91 References ........................................................................................................................................................................... 94 Definition of Terms..........................................................................................................................................................95

Appendix A: Literature Review Guidelines ............................................................................................... 97 Literature Review Guidelines......................................................................................................................................98

Appendix B: Survey Instrument ..................................................................................................................101

Appendix C: Tables by Art Form..................................................................................................................112 Dance:................................................................................................................................................................................. 113 Folk Arts:........................................................................................................................................................................... 117 Literary Arts: ................................................................................................................................................................... 121 Media Arts: ....................................................................................................................................................................... 125 Music: ................................................................................................................................................................................. 129 Musical Theater: ............................................................................................................................................................ 133 Opera:................................................................................................................................................................................. 137 Theater: ............................................................................................................................................................................. 141 Visual Arts: ....................................................................................................................................................................... 145

Executive Summary

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