Formative Assessment in the Arts

Formative assessment process in the arts

The Formative Assessment Process leads teachers and students to ask themselves three guiding questions throughout the learning process:

  • Where are we (teacher and students) going?
  • What does the student understand now?
  • How do we (teacher and students) get to the learning target?

In arts classrooms, these guiding questions support students as they improve their artistic practice, creative process, and methods for delivering and receiving feedback. For example, self-assessment, a tool already valuable in the arts, is refined further, creating more independent and discerning thinkers and artists. These guiding questions support teachers as they enhance their skills in drawing more sophisticated performances and more innovative creative work out of their students.

The MDE’s Formative Assessment for Michigan Educators (FAME) program, supported by the Michigan Assessment Consortium, is inviting arts educators to join FAME as members of a statewide Arts Team for the 2022-23 school year.

Apply for the Statewide Arts Team for 2023-24

How we define formative assessment

“Formative assessment is a planned, ongoing process used by all students and teachers during learning and teaching to elicit and use evidence of student learning to improve student understanding of intended disciplinary learning outcomes and support students to become more self-directed learners.”

(CCSSO FAST SCASS, 2018)

Formative Assessment for Michigan Educators (FAME)

FAME is a statewide professional learning program designed to support teacher learning about and use of the formative assessment process. FAME provides support to Learning Teams in which a group of educators and a Coach work collaboratively to learn about and practice the formative assessment process.

Visit FAME

Blogs & Online Sources

Our blog features the contributions of MAEIA affiliates and news about the MAEIA project. Journals, blogs, and online sources are listed, too.

Read Blog

MAEIA Events Calendar

Check out our calendar to stay current on arts education events such as MAEIA offerings, professional conferences, festivals, and initiatives.

View Events

Social Media

Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter. Read and share posts about assessments, opportunities, articles, and commentary.

Interact

Want to learn more about MAEIA?

Contact Us