Alternative Assessment

Creating an assessment asking learners to use an online tool

I. Unit/Topic

This assessment task, an exhibition proposal, would be for the final unit of the Introduction to Art course about the functions, representations and communicative nature of art.

II. Learning Objective

The overall or terminal objective for this assessment is to:

Evaluate the functions, representations and communicative nature of art (social, spiritual, political, etc.) in written comparisons and exhibition proposal/presentation.

Its enabling objectives are:

• Classify works of art based on themes and functions.

• Infer from examples of art how they can serve as a form of communication, representation or expression.

III. Description of Assessment

For the final project of this course, learners needs to synthesize all of what they learned throughout the course—the importance of art; the vocabulary of art and design; Feldman’s method of critiquing art; techniques, media and materials used by artists; major artistic movements and styles; and themes and functions of art—in an exhibition proposal.

As a starting point, learners will have to select an area of focus—whether an artist, movement, or theme—and explain why they chose that topic for an exhibition in the form of an introductory wall text for the exhibition. A recommended resource to begin exploration of possible topic is Google’s Arts and Culture Project, focusing on the projects’ page.

Then learners will have to select works of art (at least 10) they’d showcase in the proposed exhibition and explain why these selections (keeping in mind how these works communicate, represent or express the themes, functions, or areas of focus presented for the exhibition) in the form of wall text. Submission of the exhibition proposal can be in any creation form (whether a document proposal with visuals, a presentation using PowerPoint or Prezi, or a video).

Here are two image collections that learners can use in the search for works of art:

1. The Getty's Open Content Program. The Getty Search Gateway allows you to browse and search for art and other content in the Getty's collection. Any image that is part of the institution's Open Content Program, will have a download link. These open content images can be used for any purpose without first seeking permission from the Getty, but please use the following source credit for any image you use: Digital image courtesy of the Getty's Open Content Program.

2. Metropolitan Museum of Art's Open Access for Scholarly Content (OASC). This search page for the Met's collection allows you to search and browse for art images that can be downloaded or linked for scholarly purposes. Credit line information is provided and should be included with any image you use.

IV. Type of Assessment

This is a summative assessment as this is the final project for the course, and involves evaluation, interpretation, creation, and synthesis of all concepts and lessons learners completed throughout the course.

​This assessment involves creation with an exhibition proposal that is a real life application, and also requires analytical, interpretive skills, and evaluation as well in terms of critiquing works to determine what would work well for the exhibit and why.

​It is an effective alternative assessment task because it goes beyond knowledge and comprehension types of questions (e.g., multiple choice, drag and drop), and asks learners to get at the core goal of the course: appreciation of art by essentially putting themselves into the shoes of a museum curator. Google’s Arts and Culture Project offers ideas for making exhibition ideas/stories possible.

V. Feedback

​Learners can submit a draft and receive instructor feedback based on rubric to revise before final submission, form peer-to-peer sharing groups to test and ask each other for feedback and suggestions for improvement, and of course, review previous lessons and assessments as well before final submission to make sure they have a firm grasp of all the components they’ll need for this final project.

VI. Rubric