The Rich Task: A Unit of Instruction and A Unit of Assessment

Abstract

External assessments are pervasive in education, particularly with the testing environment created by the No Child Left Behind reform initiative. To solidify its position as a core subject within education, art needs to be held accountable to its standards at both national and state levels. If art is left out of assessment mandates at either level, then the subject of art is given short shrift and is perceived as less important than other core subjects—or worse, as unnecessary by students, parents, administrators, and the public in general. Art can be assessed for accountability purposes internally and on a regular basis through a district-wide school-based assessment system (SBA). Within the ambit of SBA, a model of curriculum and assessment known as rich tasks is not only feasible but also desirable.

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Notes on contributors

Donna Kay Beattie

Donna Kay Beattie is Professor of Art Education at Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah. E-mail: [email protected]