Steps toward Effective Assessment

The Challenge and Benefit of Evaluating Folk Dancing Quality

“…The measurement of complex behaviors, such as those involved with folk dancing, requires the use of tools that assess students’ demonstration of skill acquisition in authentic, real-time scenarios (Abeles, 1973; Bonbright & McGreevy-Nichols, 1999; Hanna, 2008). Designating observable skills helps align instruction and assessment to meet curricular goals (Cope, 1996; Miller et al, 2013). In a broad sense, the necessary and measureable skills for successful student folk dancing will include various motor skills, response to visual and aural cues, and an awareness of others.…”

Idea Bank

“…embedded assessment engages students in authentic, real-world tasks." 7 The practical ideas for individualized assessment presented here incorporate the current National Standards of Music Education. In order to increase accountability for the individual musical development of students, teachers need to explore various methods for assessing student progress and evaluating their own teaching methods.…”

Six Key Principles for Music Assessment

“…While new grading criteria or rubrics might need to be developed if a teacher typically uses paper-and-pencil tests, embedded assessment engages students in authentic, real-world tasks. 7…”

“…First, you should ensure that the criteria in a rubric that you design always refer back to one of your learning goals, because its purpose is to allow you to measure the results of what you have taught. 15 For example, to address the previous goal of reading music, a rubric might evaluate a student's ability to read the combinations of quarter notes, rests, and eighth-note pairs contained in "This Way, Valerie." Evaluating progress toward your goals will help both you and your students remember what is important and what will keep you working toward them.…”