Dusting off the art history report assignment...
From middle school though high school, I believe a research assignment is the best way to end a course, be it a semester or a year. It allows students to pull together their knowledge, dig a bit deeper into topics they may enjoy, and gives you, the instructor, the time to close down your course for winter/summer break.
My assumption is that every course of art includes connections to art history and cultures. I further believe it is important that students experience an academic assignment in art that can often take the form of an art history report focused on a specific artist, period in history, or a culture. Though some may want to assign a specific topic to an entire class, I find it more engaging if students have a certain amount of choice. My students pick from a list but may choose artists I have not included on the list as long as they meet 2 parameters... They must be dead, and have work in more than one major museum collection. This ensures that there should be ample material for them to find as they research.
I design my research assignments in such a way that they can be completed in class over a 5 day period, assuming about 45 minutes to 1 hour per day. I make assignments due on a Friday, but I accept them as on-time If I get them Monday at the start of the day. Making expectations clear is very important as well as penalties for lateness.
I have shared previously my "Interview With A Dead Artist" assignment, which I still use for my introductory classes. You can find that HERE. You can even download the packet I use with my students.
This year I have an advanced class, and wanted to try something different for them. I wanted to give them 2 options, and let them choose.
Option 1 was based on some Videos that Google Arts & Culture created during the Covid Pandemic. They were short and informative, so I picked 5 and created a Google Document students could insert their work into and submit. This was very straight forward but designed in a way that I could see if they were incorporating their vocabulary into the assignment and making deeper connections to the work. I outlined expectations, letting them understand that completing the assignment and just meeting expectations was like meeting the requirements to pass, a "C" grade. If they wanted an "A," a possible 100%, they had to exceed expectations with depth and insightful information that showed off what they had learned since Art 1, 2 and 3.
Below is a link to my Google document. Remember to go to FILE --> Select "Make A Copy" and you can alter it to fit your needs. DO NOT request access, just make your own copy, keeping my credit line in the footer please. As Google Arts & Cultures adds more videos, you can change hyperlinks to target videos you wish your students to use.
Assignment LINK:
Option 2 was to take 4 to 6 images from art history and pretend they were illustrations for a story. They were to use the basic outline in my Google Document below, and weave a tale, and finish with a bit of research on the works they included and information about the artist. 4 images would meet the minimal expectation for a "C" while more would exceed expectations and the ability to earn 100%. Again, to use my Google Document, go to FILE --> Select "Make A Copy" and you can alter it to fit your needs. DO NOT request access, just make your own copy, keeping my credit line in the footer please.
Assignment LINK:
More assessments can be found in my book, "Art Assessments" HERE and on Amazon.
My assumption is that every course of art includes connections to art history and cultures. I further believe it is important that students experience an academic assignment in art that can often take the form of an art history report focused on a specific artist, period in history, or a culture. Though some may want to assign a specific topic to an entire class, I find it more engaging if students have a certain amount of choice. My students pick from a list but may choose artists I have not included on the list as long as they meet 2 parameters... They must be dead, and have work in more than one major museum collection. This ensures that there should be ample material for them to find as they research.
I design my research assignments in such a way that they can be completed in class over a 5 day period, assuming about 45 minutes to 1 hour per day. I make assignments due on a Friday, but I accept them as on-time If I get them Monday at the start of the day. Making expectations clear is very important as well as penalties for lateness.
I have shared previously my "Interview With A Dead Artist" assignment, which I still use for my introductory classes. You can find that HERE. You can even download the packet I use with my students.
This year I have an advanced class, and wanted to try something different for them. I wanted to give them 2 options, and let them choose.
Option 1 was based on some Videos that Google Arts & Culture created during the Covid Pandemic. They were short and informative, so I picked 5 and created a Google Document students could insert their work into and submit. This was very straight forward but designed in a way that I could see if they were incorporating their vocabulary into the assignment and making deeper connections to the work. I outlined expectations, letting them understand that completing the assignment and just meeting expectations was like meeting the requirements to pass, a "C" grade. If they wanted an "A," a possible 100%, they had to exceed expectations with depth and insightful information that showed off what they had learned since Art 1, 2 and 3.
Below is a link to my Google document. Remember to go to FILE --> Select "Make A Copy" and you can alter it to fit your needs. DO NOT request access, just make your own copy, keeping my credit line in the footer please. As Google Arts & Cultures adds more videos, you can change hyperlinks to target videos you wish your students to use.
Assignment LINK:
Option 2 was to take 4 to 6 images from art history and pretend they were illustrations for a story. They were to use the basic outline in my Google Document below, and weave a tale, and finish with a bit of research on the works they included and information about the artist. 4 images would meet the minimal expectation for a "C" while more would exceed expectations and the ability to earn 100%. Again, to use my Google Document, go to FILE --> Select "Make A Copy" and you can alter it to fit your needs. DO NOT request access, just make your own copy, keeping my credit line in the footer please.
Assignment LINK:
More assessments can be found in my book, "Art Assessments" HERE and on Amazon.
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