A Space for Assessment

A Space for Assessment
Exploring assessment and feedback in practice and studio based learning environments

Presentations and Reports from the event

An ADM-HEA & PALATINE symposium hosted by Kingston University

The notion of the ‘studio’ as a space for work and learning is integral to both art and design and performing arts education. The Art Design Media Subject Centre (ADM-HEA) and PALATINE, the Subject Centre for Dance, Drama and Music, are organising a symposium to explore assessment and feedback in practice and studio based work. This event will be hosted by Kingston University.

Although there is a good deal of pedagogic literature and a growing body of research around feedback, assessment and learning in higher education, there remain varied interpretations and understandings, held by students, academics and practitioners, on how feedback is defined and how this can inform learning.

So, do our current assessment and feedback processes guarantee student learning and understanding?

Formative assessment and feedback has been an integrated and established part of the curriculum practice in art, design, architecture and the performing arts for over 50 years. This is seen as a positive and critical element in the student’s learning process. The creation, performance and presentation of work, portfolio reviews, self and peer assessment, tutorials, seminar presentations and – in art and design - the critique (“crit”), together with practice and studio-based culture and environment, all allow the opportunity for formative feedback and assessment to take place.  Why then is feedback and assessment still highlighted as a weak area by the NSS?.

A Space for Assessment symposium will contribute to the current debates around assessment and aims to enhance further our understanding and practice of assessment and feedback through a number of facilitated discussion groups and presentations, including the study analysis of NSS Art and Design data, by Professors David Vaughan and Manze Yorke, commissioned by GLAD and funded by ADM-HEA and the HEAD Trust. For more information on the NSS report

Speakers and presenters:

• Max Ackermann, Design Subject Leader, Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design
  

• Dr Bernadette Blair, Academic Director & Reader in Studio-Based L&T, Faculty of Art, Design & Architecture  Kingston University
• Hilaire Graham, Director of Teaching and Learning, University for the Creative Arts
  
• Rebekka Kill, Senior Lecturer in Creativity, Enterprise and Engagement, Leeds Metropolitan University
  

• Dr Paul Kleiman, Deputy Director, PALATINE
• Jackie McManus, Head of Widening Participation Programmes, University of the Arts London
• Dr Simon Ofield-Kerr, Dean, Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture, Kingston University
  
• Professor Susan Orr, Deputy Dean, Faculty of Arts, York St John University
• Professor Ian Pirie, Assistant Principal (Learning and Teaching), Edinburgh College of Art
• Professor David Vaughan, Higher Education Advisor/Developer
  
• Dr Shân Wareing, Dean in Learning and Teaching Development, University of the Arts London
  

Programme

The Final Programme for the event is available here.

Timings

Day one, Thursday, 27 May

11.30   Registration and coffee

12.00   Welcome

12.15   Keynote - Professor Susan Orr

13.00   Lunch

14.00   3 x Afternoon Parallel Sessions (more information on pdf)

15.00   Coffee

15.30   Feedback from Parallel Sessions

16.00   Presentation - Dr Bernadette Blair

16.45   Keynote - Dr Paul Kleiman

17.30   Summary of Day One - Dr Simon Ofield-Kerr

17.45   Drinks reception and tour of studios/workshops

18.30   Close of day one

Day two, Friday, 28 May

9.30     Registration and coffee

10.00   Keynote - Professor David Vaughan

10.30   3 x Discussion Groups (more information on pdf)

11.15   Coffee

11.45   Feedback from Discussion Groups

12.15   Keynote - Professor Ian Pirie

13.00   Panel Discussion

13.30   Lunch

14.30   Close of symposium

Location

Faculty of Art, Design & Architecture
Kingston University
Knights Park
Kingston
KT1 2QJ

Drawings on header image by Kit Friend