Grading and Art
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I believe grades and art are two concepts that don’t mix well however our school policy requires that I must provide grades to art students.
I would like my students to create their own original art, develop a portfolio of the work they created, and evaluate their own process, techniques used, and determine areas they would like to refine in the future. Developing creative solutions to problems and making their own artistic choices are important skills they can learn in the art room. In my classes, students use the Artistic Thinking Process to create their own artwork. The Artistic Thinking Process is a structure for students to use to create their artwork and the basis for the weekly Artistic Thinking Process (ATP) grade. The ATP grade reflects engagement with the artmaking process accomplished in class. My goal for using the ATP as the basis for grading are to increase student engagement by creating an environment that fosters intrinsic motivation. I have found that grades based on artwork or products can be frustrating for students. Grading projects stifles the creative spirit and can even prohibit taking risks and overcoming challenges because students are afraid their decisions will affect their grade. Rubrics for artwork, or requiring elements often results in artwork that is made precisely to meet the requirements to earn a desired grade. Once requirements are met students will stop making art and wait for the next assignment. I would like to see students push themselves beyond making art that satisfies a predetermined list of objectives. I feel it is important for students to explore their own ideas, make their own choices, and learn to make their own artwork. Stages of the Artistic Thinking Process1: Inspiration: Use themes, Explore media, develop a process, experience, develop guiding questions, develop new skills. 2: Development: Plan, research, sketch, list, experiment, find resource images, visual journal, mind map, model, brainstorm, practice, watch demonstrations. 3: Create :Produce work, reflect, revise, analyze, improve, re-think 4:Reflect and Present: Critique, discuss, revise, present, reflect on success and failures, share your work. |
Artistic Thinking Process Rubric:Extremely Engaged: 22/22 points
ATP is used to work through obstacles or to bring about advanced ideas, showing skill or growth beyond what is expected. Take some risks beyond your comfort zone. Show that you failed at something. Try multiple solutions to your problem. Develop original artwork using your own imagery or appropriate images correctly (changing the context and original intent of the original image). Develop your work beyond the walls or timeframe of the classroom. Engaged: 20/22 points ATP is used to develop ideas, plan, and create artwork. Inspire: Seeks artists and artworks. Maintains a sketchbook of bootcamps, practice, demos, notes, development of themes. Explores new media and techniques. Design: Develops a plan. Designs original artwork. Researches new skills and techniques. Brainstorm project concepts and explores possibilities in composition. Create: Uses class time productively on a daily basis. Persists even when problems arise. Applies artistic skills, uses tools/media with control and works toward growth. Strives to use visual language to convey meaning and express ideas. Develops composition using the elements and principles of art and design. Reflect: Actively participates in critique and reflections. Considers ways to grow and improve. Seeks peer reviews. Talk about art and the works of others using art vocabulary. Compliant: 18/22 points
ATP is used most of the time, but parts of the process are not observable, skipped, or incomplete. Missing any number of the engaged items listed above. Disengaged: 10/22 points
ATP is not observable or infrequently used. Not participating in any of the engaged strategies. |
Frequently Asked Questions about ATP Grades:
What if I am absent from class?
If you are EA, SC, SS, CO, GO, or any other excused absence you can work outside of class to make up the missed time to earn a higher grade. Students need to document their work with photos by taking one photo before they begin work and after each hour spent working. These photos can be submitted through Google Classroom. Unexcused absences or skips are not eligible to submit makeup work.
Do I have to work outside of class if I missed only one period?
No, you are not required to make up anything. The choice is yours. If you want to get the most out of the class you should put in all of the time available and you will see the results in your work. I will make every effort possible to help students pass my classes. Your level of achievement is up to you.
How do I become Extremely Engaged?
If you fully demonstrate the ATP process throughout the week AND can show evidence you are also currently working on artmaking outside of class you are extremely engaged. Here are some other ways of being extremely engaged: take some risks, develop your own technique, innovate a new way of using materials, develop a series of related works, deeply explore a topic or subject, make connections between your work and other artists, issues, or themes, develop artwork with your own images, persist when problems arise, develop solutions to problems, try something that might have some unexpected results, reflect on your process and tell people when you make a remarkable discovery. Make art without being easily distracted from your work.
How long do I have to make up missed time from class?
Students have until Friday of the following week to submit evidence of hours spent outside of class. This will prevent the concept that you can cram 15-30 hours of art making into a weekend a week before the semester ends and feel like it will have a positive result on your artmaking skills. You should develop your skills over the duration of the semester. Cramming is not effective in art.
What if I am school sponsored?
If you are school sponsored for events you are not exempt from the time you missed in class. You should plan ahead if you know you will miss class. Bring home supplies as needed and plan time into your schedule to work on your artwork.
What if I don’t have a camera or I don’t know how to get pictures from my device to a computer?
I have a camera at school that you can use. Please let me know if you need help with any technical issues. I am happy to help. If you leave high school without knowledge of how to move images from cameras to computers this is an incredibly important lesson you should not miss.
What do I do if I am absent for a really long time?
You still need to put in the hours that you missed in class. Please let me know about absences of a week or more, it is possible to keep up with your time while you are out without too much effort.
What happens if I skip class?
Students cannot receive credit for work if they choose to skip class. This will have a negative effect on your grade and more importantly your ability to develop your artmaking skills. I highly recommend attending class every day. You will see the results in your work.
What happens if I am not honest about my make up work?
Be as honest and choose to put in the time that is required to make your own artwork and develop your skills. You will see the results with each project you create. Even in art it is possible to be academically dishonest. You could receive a 0 for your weekly ATP grade if you are found to be dishonest. Please do not submit photos of other peoples artwork and claim it as your own.
If you are EA, SC, SS, CO, GO, or any other excused absence you can work outside of class to make up the missed time to earn a higher grade. Students need to document their work with photos by taking one photo before they begin work and after each hour spent working. These photos can be submitted through Google Classroom. Unexcused absences or skips are not eligible to submit makeup work.
Do I have to work outside of class if I missed only one period?
No, you are not required to make up anything. The choice is yours. If you want to get the most out of the class you should put in all of the time available and you will see the results in your work. I will make every effort possible to help students pass my classes. Your level of achievement is up to you.
How do I become Extremely Engaged?
If you fully demonstrate the ATP process throughout the week AND can show evidence you are also currently working on artmaking outside of class you are extremely engaged. Here are some other ways of being extremely engaged: take some risks, develop your own technique, innovate a new way of using materials, develop a series of related works, deeply explore a topic or subject, make connections between your work and other artists, issues, or themes, develop artwork with your own images, persist when problems arise, develop solutions to problems, try something that might have some unexpected results, reflect on your process and tell people when you make a remarkable discovery. Make art without being easily distracted from your work.
How long do I have to make up missed time from class?
Students have until Friday of the following week to submit evidence of hours spent outside of class. This will prevent the concept that you can cram 15-30 hours of art making into a weekend a week before the semester ends and feel like it will have a positive result on your artmaking skills. You should develop your skills over the duration of the semester. Cramming is not effective in art.
What if I am school sponsored?
If you are school sponsored for events you are not exempt from the time you missed in class. You should plan ahead if you know you will miss class. Bring home supplies as needed and plan time into your schedule to work on your artwork.
What if I don’t have a camera or I don’t know how to get pictures from my device to a computer?
I have a camera at school that you can use. Please let me know if you need help with any technical issues. I am happy to help. If you leave high school without knowledge of how to move images from cameras to computers this is an incredibly important lesson you should not miss.
What do I do if I am absent for a really long time?
You still need to put in the hours that you missed in class. Please let me know about absences of a week or more, it is possible to keep up with your time while you are out without too much effort.
What happens if I skip class?
Students cannot receive credit for work if they choose to skip class. This will have a negative effect on your grade and more importantly your ability to develop your artmaking skills. I highly recommend attending class every day. You will see the results in your work.
What happens if I am not honest about my make up work?
Be as honest and choose to put in the time that is required to make your own artwork and develop your skills. You will see the results with each project you create. Even in art it is possible to be academically dishonest. You could receive a 0 for your weekly ATP grade if you are found to be dishonest. Please do not submit photos of other peoples artwork and claim it as your own.
