- Curriculum for Wales
Nurturing Creativity: RM Compare as a Tool for Expressive Arts Assessment
This is the second post in our 10 part series offering a Welsh Curriculum practitioners guide to RM Compare.
The Challenge of Assessing Creativity
In the realm of Expressive Arts, Welsh teachers face a unique challenge: how to assess creativity objectively while nurturing individual expression. The new Curriculum for Wales places significant emphasis on developing enterprising, creative contributors, but traditional assessment methods often fall short in capturing the nuances of artistic expression. This is where RM Compare steps in, offering a revolutionary approach to evaluating creative work in the classroom.
RM Compare: A New Lens for Artistic Evaluation
RM Compare introduces comparative judgement to the assessment process, allowing teachers to evaluate creative works in a more holistic and nuanced manner. Instead of relying on rigid marking criteria, educators can now compare pieces of work directly, making intuitive judgements about their relative quality. This approach aligns perfectly with the subjective nature of art, where the whole is often greater than the sum of its parts.
Embracing Diversity in Artistic Expression
One of the key strengths of RM Compare in Expressive Arts assessment is its ability to accommodate diverse forms of artistic expression. Whether it's a painting, a musical composition, a dance performance, or a piece of creative writing, the tool allows for fair comparison across different mediums. This flexibility ensures that pupils with varying artistic strengths and preferences have equal opportunities to showcase their talents.
Fostering a Growth Mindset in Arts Education
By focusing on comparative judgement rather than fixed criteria, RM Compare helps foster a growth mindset among pupils. Teachers can provide more constructive feedback, highlighting the strengths of each piece and areas for improvement without the constraints of predetermined rubrics. This approach encourages pupils to view their artistic journey as a process of continuous improvement rather than a quest for a perfect score.
Collaborative Assessment in the Arts
RM Compare opens up new possibilities for collaborative assessment in Expressive Arts. Teachers can engage in moderation exercises, comparing their judgements with colleagues to build a shared understanding of quality in artistic work. This collaborative approach not only enhances consistency in assessment but also contributes to the professional development of arts educators.
Capturing the Creative Process
While the final product is important in arts assessment, the creative process itself is equally valuable. RM Compare allows teachers to assess various stages of the creative journey, from initial sketches to final performances. This comprehensive approach provides a more complete picture of each pupil's artistic development, aligning with the curriculum's focus on nurturing creative contributors.
Balancing Objectivity and Subjectivity
One of the most significant challenges in arts assessment is striking a balance between objectivity and subjectivity. RM Compare addresses this by allowing for multiple comparisons across a range of works. As more comparisons are made, a more objective ranking emerges, while still preserving the nuanced judgements that are essential in evaluating art.
Empowering Pupil Voice in Arts Assessment
RM Compare can also be used to involve pupils in the assessment process. By engaging in peer assessment using the comparative judgement approach, pupils can develop their critical thinking skills and gain a deeper understanding of artistic quality. This aligns with the curriculum's aim of developing ambitious, capable learners who can reflect on their own work and that of others.
Looking Ahead: The Future of Arts Assessment
As Welsh education continues to evolve, so too will the approaches to assessing Expressive Arts. RM Compare is at the forefront of this evolution, offering a flexible and innovative tool that can adapt to the changing landscape of arts education. Future developments may include features that allow for the assessment of interactive or digital artworks, further expanding the tool's capabilities.
Conclusion: Nurturing the Artists of Tomorrow
In embracing RM Compare for Expressive Arts assessment, Welsh teachers are not just adopting a new tool; they are championing a new philosophy of arts education. One that values individual expression, nurtures creativity, and provides fair and comprehensive assessment. As educators continue to explore the possibilities offered by RM Compare, they are helping to shape a generation of confident, creative, and expressive individuals who are ready to contribute their unique voices to the world.