OATdb Archive

2013 - 2014

Art BA (Studio Art)

Goal
Drawing Techniques And Skills
Students will have the ability to draw and create expressive works of art using the materials and techniques specific to drawing.

Objective
Drawing Skills
Students will demonstrate basic skills in drawing by producing works that show an understanding of elements, techniques and materials used in contemporary art practices.

Indicator
Drawing Portfolio
Students in BA Studio Art Program will be required to take ARTS 1316 Drawing 1 and ARTS 1317 Life Drawing 1. Drawings from these courses are included in a portfolio review to assess the students’

• expressive use of line and mark making

• use of value to describe forms and light

• compositions that incorporate the use of negative space and the entire page

• ability to draw the human figure with the correct proportions

• use of perspective to depict 3-dimensional space

• craftsmanship and proficiency with materials


Criterion
Evaluation By Faculty
A group of at least 10 studio faculty evaluated the portfolios in the Fall 2013 and Spring 2014 semesters. The rubric was refined this year, in the fall a scale of 0-4 was used and in the spring, it was changed to a scale of 0-5.

The criteria for evaluation and expectations were made clear to students by distributing information about the portfolio requirements to students through the art office and online.

Meetings were held with faculty teaching Drawing 1 and Figure Drawing 1 to develop strategies for emphasizing composition, negative space and perspective drawing in courses. These were areas that were identified as weak in previous reviews.

It is expected that the average student score on each of the elements assessed will be at least 3.



Finding
Averages Below 3
In the Fall 2013, the average score on each element was 2 or below with the lowest scores on the students' ability to use perspective to depict 3-D space. Use of value and composition were also below 2.

In the Spring, the rubric was refined and the averages were below 3 in all of the areas except the use of value. The weakest area was the ability to draw the human figure with correct proportions. The use of perspective was also below 3.


Action
Improve Drawing Curriculum
Since Drawing is a fundamental skill important to all aspects of art making, it will continue to be emphasized in the program.

To improve teaching of drawing, the Foundation Coordinator will conduct workshops with faculty to develop strategies for teaching drawing with emphasis on compositional strategies, and the use of perspective to depict space. 


Goal
Fundamental Digital Skills
Students will develop proficiency using digital technology to create art.

Objective
Digital Proficiency
Students in the BA Program in Studio Art will demonstrate the abilty to create and manipulate images using image editing software.

Indicator
Digital Portfolio
After completing ARTS 2315 Foundations in Digital Art, students will submit two works to be reviewed by a committee of art faculty.The works will be used to assess the students'
• ability to create expressive color relationships using digital media
• expressive use of formal design elements to compose a digital image
• ability to visually communicate a concept through digal media
• ability to render an image at the appropriate resolution for print, screen, or video

Criterion
70% Of Students Will Score 3 Or Higher
It is expected that the average of all of the students scores will tbe 3.5 or higher using a scale of 0 -5 and the following rubric:
0 - No work submitted by student
1 - Work fails to demonstrate ability or concept
2 - Demonstrates ability that needs improvement
3 - Demonstrates proficiency
4 - Demonstrates above average proficiency
5 - Demonstrates exceptional proficiency

Finding
At 3 Or Higher
The average score of the students in each of the areas was about 3, with the lowest being the use of formal elements to compose an image. The average score of this element was 2.92. 


Action
Assess And Update Curriculum
After reviewing the portfolios, faculty questioned the objectives of ARTS 2315 and its purpose in the curriculum.  It was felt that the projects seemed dated and that developments in software, delivery of training, and student preparedness had evolved over the past decade while the assignments and student projects had not.

The Foundations Coordinator will meet with faculty to discuss strategies for improving and updating the curriculum by developing time based projects and projects that provide students with more opportunities for self expression.



Update to previous cycle's plan for continuous improvement

The BFA Portfolio Review is used evaluate all of the work by students in all of the art programs including the BA students. Students must pass this review in order to take upper level art courses. The review is also used to evaluate the curriculum and the strengths and weaknesses in the curriculum. The Portfolio review rubric was revised and the information given to students was clarified and expanded to include expectations pertaining to the new rubric. The information was distributed to students through the art office and online. Faculty teaching Drawing and other Foundations courses were made aware of areas that need improvement and asked to emphasize teaching this skills and concepts.
The Art History curriculum is being expanded with the goal of increasing course offerings and eventually a degree program. Faculty chose to focus on improving the Foundations in Digital Art curriculum and have included it in this assessment for that purpose.


Plan for continuous improvement A Foundations Coordinator was appointed in Fall 2013. In the Fall 2014 and Spring 2015, the Foundations Coordinator will conduct faculty workshops for faculty teaching Drawing and Foundations in Digital Art. The Fall workshop will focus on strategies for teaching drawing. Faculty will discuss and develop the curriculum and assignments to strengthen areas that have shown weakness if the portfolio review. The Spring workshop will focus on Foundations in Digital Art. Faculty will assess the learning objectives for this course and update the curriculum to provide students with a course that is more relevant and provides them with the ability to use software more expressively.