Unit 4: Dance Assessments How can I refine my dancing using assessments in dance?

What is an assessment? An assessment is a test of one’s knowledge and abilities

What types of assessments does dance use? Self Assessment- testing your own knowledge and abilities Peer Assessment- a classmate or friend will test your knowledge and abilities Teacher Assessment- your teacher tests your knowledge and abilities

Self Assessments Can be done independently Should only focus on you individually when watching yourself Mirror, camcorder (recording device), video recording

Peer Assessments A partner is required Provides an outside perspective Can offer advice that you cannot give yourself You can ask questions and create dialogue about why certain dance phrases are difficult and how to improve Blind Assessments: an anonymous person our groups will test your knowledge and abilities using a video Helps to create a fair assessment

Teacher Assessments (evaluations) Requires your teacher Teacher does this informally (during class) and formally (tests and benchmarks) Teacher will often keep record of progress and refer to video for suggestions to the student Teacher provides: Feedback- commentary on how you’re performing; corrections and praises Observation- a visual assessment that looks for specific things Demonstration- show the correct manner in which the dance should be done

How do we give assessments? Dance class uses a rubric: an outline of requirements to guide the student and assess them for a particular level of dance based on their abilities. Try to be as honest as possible; when in doubt, refer to any recordings

What are the dance levels? Novice: beginner level dancer who demonstrates little to no knowledge or dance abilities Proficient: a dancer who demonstrates some knowledge but has limited abilities Intermediate: a dancer who demonstrates a good amount of knowledge and meets the required dance abilities Advanced/Exemplary: a dancer who meets and exceeds dance knowledge and abilities

Why do I need to be assessed in dance? Knowing where we start in dance helps us to set short term and long term goals This allows us to know our strengths and weaknesses Keeps grading fair and outlines what dance moves I’m responsible for knowing We can track our progress or lack of progress Keeps myself, my peers, and my teacher from making ‘opinion based’ assessments Rubric helps us give good feedback by using the words in the rubric We cannot judge or ‘like’ or ‘dislike’ a dance simply based on preference not opinion

How do I use the assessments? I refer to them when I’m confused I keep an open mind and do not get offended when receiving feedback or constructive criticism Understand that in order to grow, I must correct mistakes My assessments allow me to see where I’m struggling. Thus, I can make a plan to focus on that area when I come to dance class.

What’s the overall message? We all make mistakes. Dance is another way to teach us how to be responsible for those mistakes and how to correct them. Assessments how us accountable much like our friends, teachers, and family do everyday I must discipline myself in order to make a change in my dancing as well in my life