Level 1 art history is a new subject in 2011, so it is very important that teachers are familiar with all the assessment materials available on Te Kete Ipurangi, NZQA, and NCEA websites.
At the time of publication, achievement standards were in development to align them with The New Zealand Curriculum. Please ensure that you are using the correct version of the standards by going to the NZQA website.
The NZQA subject-specific resources pages are very helpful. From there, you can find all the achievement standards and links to assessment resources, both internal and external.
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Aligned level 1 achievement standards were registered for use in 2011 and level 2 for use in 2012; level 3 will be registered for use in 2013.
Guidelines for the Assessment of Level 1 Standards clearly outlines the intent of the assessment process and includes a list of artists from whom the examiners will draw when setting external examinations.
It is also important to remember that, at NZQA level 1, not all teaching and learning needs to be assessed for formal qualifications. Teachers might programme some formative and practice learning activities that allow students to gain confidence in applying skills, knowledge, or subject content, before a formal assessment takes place.
Assessment is not the purpose of learning but a way of measuring student learning and outcomes. Best teaching practice allows for the intrinsic rewards of learning: gaining new insights, expanding world-views, enjoying looking at and talking about art. Opportunities to engage with art works might include field trips, discussion, and creative expression, which may not form part of the summative assessment practice required for internal and external assessment.
The core business of art history, while retaining academic rigour, should allow for free discussion and appreciation of the art works for enjoyment, as this is a life skill.
Last updated April 12, 2021