NAEA Position Statement on the Connections Between Instruction, Assessment, and Learning in the Visual Arts

NAEA believes that quality teaching in the visual arts is a multi-faceted, complex endeavor that acknowledges the integral connections between instruction, assessment, and learning. Equitable, meaningful assessment in the visual arts informs instruction and, in itself, is a collaborative process between learners and educators.

Quality instruction and assessment foster skills and provide tools so that learners can reflect on and carefully consider their learning in art, empowering learners with greater agency in shaping their own development. The art educator grounds art experiences in enduring understandings and essential questions that are relevant to learners and demonstrates how the visual arts impact society.

NAEA advocates for policy makers and administrators to support content specific professional development that empowers art educators in facilitating the integrated process of meaningful instruction, assessment, and learning in the visual arts.

Resources

A Taxonomy for Learning, Teaching, and Assessing: A Revision of Bloom’s Taxonomy for Educational Objectives, by Anderson, Lorin w., Krathwohl, Avid R., Ariasian, Peter W., Pearson (2000)

National Core Arts Standards: Cornerstone Assessments https://www.nationalartsstandards.org/content/2021-mcas

The Arts and Education: New Opportunities for Research, Arts Education Partnership, 2004. https://www.americansforthearts.org/by-program/reports-and-data/legislation-policy/naappd/thearts- and-education-new-opportunities-for-research

Ruppert, Sandra S. Critical Evidence: How the Arts Benefit Student Achievement, National Assembly of State Arts Agencies and Arts Education Partnership, 2006. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED529766

Sabol, F. R. Arts assessment in an age of accountability: Challenges and opportunities in implementation, design, and measurement. In H. Braun (Ed.). Meeting the challenges to measurement in an era of accountability. (pp.183-216). Madison, WI: National Council on Measurement in Education, 2016.

Workman, Emily. Beyond the Core: Advancing student success through the arts, Education Commission of the States and Arts Education Partnership, September 2007. https://www.ecs.org/beyond-the-core-advancing-student-success-through-the-arts/