Running head: LITERATURE REVIEW ON ASSESSMENT

Literature Review on Kathy Dyers

Formative Assessment in Arts Education
By Catherine Brandom
National University
February 24, 2016

TED 690: Capstone Course

Professor Stacia Levy

LITERATURE REVIEW ON ASSESSMENT

Kathy Dyers article on Formative Assessment in Arts Education focuses on how self
and peer assessment can promote a more self aware, successful, classroom environment. She
relates her personal teaching experiences and the experiences of others to the use of formative
assessments that push further than students grading each others papers. She sees self and peer
assessment as a way for students to reflect on their work, how they are reflecting, and what their
strengths and weaknesses are. The idea of promoting students to analyze the way they are
reflecting their artwork will support the retention of lesson goals and strengthen their self
awareness.
Dyer relates to being a wood shop teacher, where you may adjust the experiments based
on the results, make revisions to drafts, and move forward with evidence. It can be easy to
assume that a student would catch themselves making the same mistake multiple times, but
unless they are consciously looking for strengths and weaknesses, creating formative
assessments to facilitate this can help. For my students, I would compare this to their tempera
paint skill building activity. The guidelines are provided on an example sheet that each student
has in front of them, examples are explained to them from the example wall within the
classroom, and the measurements for their painting scales are demonstrated using a promethean
board and direct instruction. I want my students to ask themselves, Am I painting with the best
of my ability?, Which aspects from the examples do I want to emulate in my own work?
What are my strengths and weaknesses within this assignment?. It is not enough for students to
ask themselves, Am I doing this right?. It is better if they ask What is considered right for this
project and am I on the right track?

LITERATURE REVIEW ON ASSESSMENT

Implementing formative classroom assessments which push students to question their

motives and actions can boost their instructional practice and generate strong group
conversations dedicated to feedback. To reflect, self assess, and revise is a useful activity for
both students and teachers. Her outlook on formative assessment may lead to a self aware
classroom- the one that is already getting their materials out and working by the time the bell
rings. Although the idea of self assessment within the classroom can be broad, Dyer forms her
opinions on the matter in an easy to digest fashion.

LITERATURE REVIEW ON ASSESSMENT

References

Dyer, K. (August 4, 2015). Formative Assessment in Arts Education. Retrieved February 24,
2016, from https://www.nwea.org/blog/2015/formative-assessment-in-arts-education/