CALL FOR PAPERS & PRESENTATIONS

Overview
We are seeking proposals for an Assessment in the Arts conference to be held July 28-30, 2011 in Denver, CO. Developing an assessment program in creative disciplines is not a simple task. Discussion of quantifying, rating or ranking creative products is often viewed as stripping away the emotion, feeling and creativity of the work. However, on a daily basis, faculty members in creative disciplines must assess work, provide feedback, and delineate aspects that differentiate excellent work from good work from unacceptable work. Assessment coordinators at artistic institutions, or those working with artistic and creative disciplines, must walk this fine line between collecting solid and useful assessment data for these programs and removing the soul and essence of the work. This conference seeks to add to the body of knowledge of assessment; specifically, how creative academic programs can be appropriately assessed for accreditation, instructor feedback and the improvement of student learning.

Session Format
We welcome paper, panel, workshop and other types of interactive arts assessment submissions that will review the assessment of student learning in a creative studies discipline, as well as discuss delineating assessment goals, collecting artifacts, unique aspects of the field, and factors involved in closing the loop.

Keynote Speaker
The keynote speaker will be Dr. Douglas Boughton, the Director of the School of Art at Northern Illinois University. His research interests include assessment of student learning in art, portfolio assessment and art curriculum policy. He is former World President of InSEA (International Society for Education through Art), has served as Chief Examiner Art/Design for the International Baccalaureate Organization, was Foundation Director of the National Art Education Research Council of the Australian Institute of Art Education, and Consulting Professor in Art Education to the Institute of Education in Hong Kong. He is a member of the Council for Policy Studies in Art Education (USA), is a Distinguished Fellow of the NAEA (National Art Education Association), and is an honorary life member of the Australian Institute of Art Education and the South Australian Visual Arts Education Association. In 1997 he won the Studies in Art Education Invited Lecture Award, presented by the editorial board of Studies, for consistent contributions through published literature to the direction and scope of the profession.

Proposal Submission
If you are interested in submitting a proposal, please submit the following to Allison Ostrowski, Director of Institutional Research & Assessment at Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design (aostrowski@rmcad.edu), by February 28, 2011.

• 250 word abstract of the proposed content
• name(s), title(s) and affiliation(s) of presenters
• type of content (paper/panel/workshop/roundtable)
• anticipated length
• any necessary technological support