Assessment Evaluation for ARTS 141
Written by Kenneth Yurkovitch
Department of Art and Design
Spring 2015
Course assessed: ARTS 141 Intro to Photography (Three sections of the
course were assessed).
QCC General Education Objectives:
1. Communicate Effectively through reading, writing, listening and
speaking.
2. Use analytical reasoning to identify issues or problems and evaluate
evidence in order to make informative decisions.
5. Integrate knowledge and skills in their program of study.
10. Apply aesthetic and intellectual criteria in the evaluation or creation of
works in the humanities or the arts.
Course Objectives:
1. Camera; The technical ability to operate a 35mm manual film camera
(focus, aperture and shutter speed).
2. Film; The technical ability to produce a correctly exposed roll of film
and developed properly. The film negatives will be of correct density,
exposure and proper use of chemistry.
3. Print; Technical ability to consistently make 8x10 photographic
enlargements (proper tone, contrast, focus and proficiency in the
darkroom).
4. Portfolio; A review of their portfolio consisting of all the work they have
done over the semester. (A completed and finished portfolio defined by
the professor that is properly presented and discussed in the students’
own artistic vision).
5. Overall progression: Defined by the professor as a gauging of how the
student has progressed from the first week to the last. Each student is
gauged on the knowledge they entered the course with and the
knowledge and skill they have ended with.
The following is a matrix illustrating the alignment of relevant QCC general
education objectives and relevant course objectives with student learning
outcomes.
Assessment of Photography 1 (ARTS 141) – QCC
Alignment of General Education Objectives and Course Objectives with
Student
Learning Outcomes
General Education
Course Objectives
Objectives
5. Integrate knowledge
1.Student will
and skills in their program demonstrate the
of study
technical ability to
operate a 35mm manual
film camera (focus,
aperture and shutter
speed) and
2. The technical ability to
produce a correctly
exposed roll of film and
developed properly. The
film negatives will be of
correct density, exposure
and demonstrate proper
use of chemistry.
Learning Outcomes
Students will
demonstrate the ability to
produce a properly
exposed and developed
roll of film, also
demonstrating the proper
operation of a 35mm
manual camera. The film
negatives will have
proper exposure, have
well defined light and
dark areas, sharp focus
and will be suitable for
producing an 8x10
photographic print.
2. Use analytical
reasoning to identify
issues or problems and
evaluate evidence in
order to make informative
decisions
Student will demonstrate
the technical ability to
consistently make 8x10
photographic
enlargements (proper
tone, contrast, focus and
proficiency in the
darkroom).
Student will consistently
produce a 8x10
photographic print with
full tonal ranges of white,
blacks and greys,
including proper contrast
and focus.
1. Communicate
Effectively through
reading, writing, listening
and speaking
A review of their portfolio
consisting of all the work
they have done over the
semester. (A completed
and finished portfolio
defined by the professor
that is properly presented
and discussed in the
students’ own artistic
vision).
Student is able to use
appropriate terminology
to describe technical,
aesthetic and conceptual
elements of photographic
prints that make up their
portfolio.
General Education
Objectives
10. Apply aesthetic and
intellectual criteria in the
evaluation or creation of
works in the humanities
or the arts
Course Objectives
Learning Outcomes
An overall progression
defined by the professor
as a measure of how the
student has progressed
from the first week of the
semester to the last.
Each student is gauged
on the knowledge they
entered the course with
and the knowledge and
skill they have ended
with.
Student is able to
express his/her own
artistic vision through
technically proficient
photographic prints that
utilize symbolism and
metaphor to express
conceptual ideas with
multiple layers of
meaning that as been
developed and discussed
with the student
throughout the semester.
The department of Art & Design has developed these rubrics to measure
student learning outcomes. These rubrics are shown below. Each student is
measured within a matrix corresponding to each rubric. For each rubric there are
four categories of achievement; Excellent is achieved when the student is able to
demonstrate mastery of that skill consistently and is awarded 5 points, Very good
is achieved when the student is able to demonstrate mastery of that skill but
lacks consistently and is awarded 4 points, Good is achieved when the student is
able to demonstrate mastery of that skill most of the time but lacks consistently
and is awarded 3 points, Fair is achieved when the student occasionally exhibits
mastery of that skill but is mostly inconsistent and is awarded 2 points, and Poor
is achieved when a student is unable to exhibit mastery of a skill and is awarded
1 point. A 0 is only achieved if the student has not met the basic requirements of
the course (attendance, withdrawal or missing the final). The numbers appearing
next to ach category represent the number of students who scored that specific
level of skill for each student outcome.
For the purposes of this assessment, the final portfolio, both oral
presentations and student work, served as the artifacts in three sections of
ART141 that were evaluated against the rubrics. A total of 46 artifacts were
included in the assessment.
The following is a matrix representing the raw data produced by the
instrument.
Raw Data Collection
Learning Outcomes
Student will demonstrate the technical
ability to operate a 35mm manual film
camera (focus, aperture and shutter
speed)
Students will demonstrate the ability to
produce a properly exposed and
developed roll of film. The film
negatives will have proper exposure,
have well defined light and dark areas,
sharp focus and will be suitable for
producing an 8x10 photographic print
Student is able to consistently produce
an 8x10 photographic print with full
tonal ranges of white, blacks and
greys, including proper contrast and
focus
Student is able to use appropriate
terminology to describe technical,
aesthetic and conceptual elements of
photographic prints that make up
his/her portfolio
Student is now able to express his/her
own artistic vision through technically
proficient photographic prints that
utilize symbolism and metaphor to
express conceptual ideas with multiple
layers of meaning that as been
developed and discussed with the
student throughout the semester
Excellent
5 pts.
17
Very Good Fair
Poor N/A
Good 3 pts. 2 pts. 1 pts. 0 pts.
4 pts.
9
5
1
3
11
14
7
7
1
4
13
13
9
7
3
3
11
18
11
2
2
2
11
22
6
3
2
1
12
Once the raw data has been compiled the scores are then weighted from
5 points (excellent) to 1 point (poor). The weighted scores are as follows:
Assessment of Photography 1 (ARTS 141) – QCC
Learning Outcomes / Rubrics – Weighted Score
Learning Outcomes
Student will demonstrate the technical ability to operate a
35mm manual film camera (focus, aperture and shutter
speed)
Students will demonstrate the ability to produce a properly
exposed and developed roll of film. The film negatives will be
properly exposure, have well defined light and dark areas,
sharp focus and will be suitable for producing an 8x10
photographic print
Student is able to consistently produce an 8x10 photographic
print with full tonal ranges of white, blacks and greys,
including proper contrast and focus
Student is able to use appropriate terminology to describe
technical, aesthetic and conceptual elements of photographic
prints that make up their portfolio
Student is now able to express his/her own artistic vision
through technically proficient photographic prints that utilize
symbolism and metaphor to express conceptual ideas with
multiple layers of meaning that as been developed and
discussed with the student throughout the semester
Weighted
Scores
144
125
131
146
148
Assessment Results Evaluation
Students in ARTS 141 complete an individual final project that consists of
a portfolio of 15 - 20 photographic prints representing the culmination of the
semester’s work. Students must utilize the skills learned in the course necessary
to meet the QCC general education objectives as well as the course objectives.
Students are required to demonstrate all skills outlined in the course objectives
cited above related to the technical abilities learned in the course. Additionally,
students are required to use oral communication skills in the presentation of the
portfolio to describe their artistic vision of their work and the successes and
challenges that they experienced over the semester.
The Art & Design department breaks down the learning outcomes into two
categories: Technical ability and Conceptual ability. Technical refers to the
mastery of use of photographic equipment that is used during the semester:
35mm camera, film development equipment and the photographic enlarger.
Conceptual refers to the students’ ability to use photography to develop an
individual voice to describe their work that allows multiple layers of meaning.
Students must show mastery of both of these skills to receive a high grade in the
course and on their final project. The first three learning outcomes deal with the
technical skills required in the course and fourth and fifth deal with the conceptual
component of the course.
First learning outcome: Student will demonstrate the technical ability to operate
a 35mm manual film camera (focus, aperture and shutter speed).
Weighted score: 144.
Analysis: Overall the students scored very well in the use of a 35mm camera.
The majority of students scored Excellent (60%) or Very Good (26%) meaning
that most were able to master this skill. Developing this base knowledge of the
use of a 35mm camera will serve them well in any future or advanced
photography course they may take.
Conclusion: This is an identifiable area of strength of the program. Students
achieved a high level of technical ability in mastering the use of the 35mm
camera, a primary course objective. This learning outcome maps to the QCC
General Education Objective – Integrate knowledge and skills in their program of
study. The high scores here demonstrate the program’s ability to meet this
college-wide objective extremely well.
Second learning outcome: Students will demonstrate the ability to produce a
properly exposed and developed roll of film. The film negatives will have proper
exposure, have well defined light and dark areas, sharp focus and will be suitable
for producing an 8x10 photographic print.
Weighted score: 125.
Analysis: This outcome scored lowest out of both the technical and conceptual
categories. Students expressed that this was the most difficult part of the course.
The drop in score is not major but there were many more scores in the Good to
Poor (44%) point ranges than the previous technical outcome.
Conclusion: This is an area identified as needing improvement. Although
students will have the opportunity to improve this skill in future photography
courses, it would benefit the program to address this area in the introductory
course.
Third learning outcome: Student is able to consistently produce an 8x10
photographic print with full tonal ranges of white, blacks and greys, proper
contrast and focus.
Weighted score: 131.
Analysis: The use of the darkroom also showed a drop in points similar to the
previous technical category. Again there was a higher number of students
scoring in the mid (Good – 16%) to low (Fair to Poor – 7%) range of points. This
could be attributed to the students working in an unfamiliar environment, the
darkroom, for the first time. Given the lack of limited visual references and limited
sight it may be difficult for them to make the transition. It is very different to be in
a lit lecture class and work in a low light photographic darkroom.
Conclusion: This is an area identified as needing improvement. Although
opportunities to acquire additional skills to make a successful transition to
working in the darkroom will occur in intermediate and advanced photography
courses, it would benefit the program to address this area in the introductory
course.
Fourth learning outcome: Student is able to use appropriate terminology to
describe technical, aesthetic and conceptual elements of photographic prints that
make up their portfolio.
Weighted score: 146.
Analysis: This outcome was the second highest rated in the assessment with an
increase in both the Excellent (61%) and Very Good (31%) point ratings. More
students scored higher in these ranges then all previous learning outcomes,
indicating that most students had more difficulty in the technical categories but
when it came time to discussing their work, they excelled. They demonstrated the
ability to discuss their work in terms of technical, aesthetic and conceptual ideas.
Conclusion: This is an identifiable area of strength of the program. 92% of all
artifacts scored in the highest two rankings (Excellent and Very Good) in the use
of terminology when describing work. This learning outcome is an important
indicator of the student’s ability to engage in professional dialogue about their
work and maps to the QCC General Education Objective - Communicate
effectively through reading, writing, listening and speaking. Clearly, the program
has met this objective related to oral communication.
Fifth learning outcome: Student is now able to express their own artistic vision
through technically proficient photographic prints that utilize symbolism and
metaphor to express conceptual ideas with multiple layers of meaning that has
been developed and discussed with the student throughout the semester.
Weighted score: 148.
Analysis: The highest scoring and most improved of all outcomes. Students
achieved the highest scoring of Excellent in this conceptual category meaning
that most (74%) of students showed a significant progress toward improvement
over the course of the semester. The students were successful when it came to
imbedding conceptual meaning into their work and increased skill in the technical
aspects of the course.
Conclusion: This outcome is an area of strength for this course. This learning
outcome maps to the QCC General Education objective - Apply aesthetic and
intellectual criteria in the evaluation or creation of works in the humanities or the
arts. Assessment results indicate that the students made significant progress in
this area over the semester with the final outcome demonstrating that students
are able to develop these skills successfully in the introductory course.
Summary and Action Plan
Based on the assessment results of the learning outcomes used, three
technical and two conceptual, there are three areas of strength and two that have
room for improvement.
Technically the students have a strong understanding of how to use a
35mm camera but need improvement in film development and darkroom
management. Film development was not always correctly achieved i.e: not
producing properly developed negatives, sometimes too lite or too dark or
improper use of chemistry producing no negatives at all.
The darkroom was one area of technical ability where students struggled,
often producing prints that did not achieve the correct contrast; either too grey
without proper black and white tones, or lacking contrast in a full tonal range of
greys. Mismanagement of darkroom chemistry resulted in improperly produced
prints, either of incorrect contrast or stained prints from chemical contamination.
Conceptually the students excelled in portfolio presentation, discussion of
their photographic work and overall progression over the semester. The students
were able in a critique setting to describe their work in terms of technical,
aesthetic and conceptual ideas.
The following recommendations will be implemented to address the areas
identified as needing improvement:
Learning Outcome 2: Students will demonstrate the ability to produce a properly
exposed and developed roll of film. The film negatives will have proper exposure,
have well defined light and dark areas, sharp focus and will be suitable for
producing an 8x10 photographic print.
Recommendation: Students will be encouraged to practice more techniques
inside and out of the classroom to improve their skill resulting in less mistakes
and better film development. More dry runs can be practiced to prevent improper
film development.
Learning Outcome 3: Student is able to consistently produce an 8x10
photographic print with full tonal ranges of white, blacks and greys, proper
contrast and focus. This outcome is directly related to the use of the darkroom.
Recommendation: Students will be encouraged to attend the open labs, which
are provided by the department during the semester to familiarize themselves
with the darkroom environment. More practice in this environment will improve
their ability to manage their new surroundings and achieve better prints. Use of
the open labs will be monitored by the College Laboratory Technician through the
use of attendance sheets and formal communications with the course instructors.
Artifacts
The following artifacts are samples of student work produced in all three sections
of the ARTS-141 course.