Assessment/Grading

Goals & Methods of Assessment/Grading

(Goals #1 – #5 are each 20% of the final semester grade)

Goal #1: Preparation: Understanding how to prepare for a project before actually doing it: Following directions, assembling materials, conducting research.
Method of Assessment: A strict all-or-nothing pass/fail grade for completing simple assignments. 

Goal #2: Process: Understanding the importance of steps and procedures used in professional design.
Method of Assessment: Thumbnail, rough, and comprehensive homework sketches, through to final art, are required and graded.

Goal #3: Concept: Understanding the importance of clever imagery in professional design.
Method of Assessment: The combination of symbolic (ideographic) imagery must quickly tell a story without the “crutch” of headlines and explanatory text blocks.  Ideographs and pictographs combine to create a clear and creative promotional message.

Goal #3: Craft: Understanding the importance of quality imagery and presentation in professional design.
Method of Assessment: The use of high resolution (300 dpi) graphics is required.  300 dpi raster imagery scaled up to more than 25% from the original size begins to look blurry.  Options include taking photographs, creating digital/hand-made art, scanning real objects.

Goal #4: Punctuality: Understanding the importance of a responsible attitude toward arrival time, and meeting design and production deadlines. Students who know they will be absent must e-mail homework via pdf or jpeg to me that day (or before)
Method of Assessment: Each deadline assigned to the steps of the design process will be graded.  

Projects will be assessed by

A. Presentation and Concept
1    Verbal presentation
2   Craftsmanship and presentation
3    Design
4    Concept; appropriate and unique solution
5    Meets deadline

B. Production Technique
1    Completes assignments and follows instructions
2    Technique/Execution 

Levels of participation

“Participation,” active rather than passive observation, is shown through working effectively in groups as well as through cooperation and respect for others. Participation quality will be evaluated and graded using this assessment

Level 1 Participation
• All of the markers of level 2 participation, plus:
• Draws out ideas or concerns of others
• Re-visits issues or ideas that need more attention
• Helps the group stay on track
• Summarizes group decisions and action assignments 

Level 2 Participation
• Well prepared in advance
• Takes a large part in setting group goals and agendas
• Actively participates in discussion and asks questions
• Listens actively and shows understanding
• Acknowledges and builds on others’ ideas
• Volunteers willingly

Level 3 Participation
• Moderately prepared in advance
• Takes some part in setting group goals and agendas
• Occasionally introduces information or asks questions
• If absent or late, informs others ahead of time and arranges to cover own responsibilities

Level 4 Participation
• Little or no advance preparation
• Observes passively and says little or nothing
• Uses phone, privately talks with others
• Gives the impression of wanting to be somewhere else
• Attendance record is haphazard and inconsistent

Grading standards

• Students will be evaluated on class participation, presentation skills, and verbal communication.  

• Attendance affects student participation and factors in calculating the final grade. 

• All homework is due at beginning of class. Late homework will result in a reduction of grade.

• Projects will be graded daily. Failure to show work-in-progress will result in a reduction of the final project grade.

• In-class exercises and quizzes are intended to build specific skills that will be needed for projects. They are submitted at the end of class and graded on a credit/no-credit basis. Students missing unannounced exercises will receive an F, these cannot be made-up at a later date. 

Grading

Students are evaluated on participation, presentation, and verbal communication. Attendance affects participation and the final grade. 

Projects are graded daily and on completion. Homework is due at the beginning of class, late homework will result in a grade reduction. Homework and in-class skill-building exercises and quizzes are graded on a credit/no-credit basis, and can not be completed later.

Image project15%
Type/Image project15%
Poster project15%
Motion roject15%
Final Publication project15%
Blog15%
Homework/class preparation10%
Total100%

 

Grades are calculated using a 4.0 scale. While both are listed here, the 4.0 scale does not align mathematically with the numeric scale based on percentages of 100 points.

A  [4.0; 95 – 100%] Exceptional quality work, participation, exceeds course goals 

A- [3.7; 90 – <95%] Very high-quality work, much participation

B+ [3.3; 87 – <90%] High quality work, much participation 

B  [3.0; 83 – <87%] Very good work that satisfies the goals of the course, some participation

B- [2.7; 80 – <83%] Good work, some participation

C+ [2.3; 77 – <80%] Above-average work, some participation

C  [2.0; 73 – <77%] Average work, some participation that indicates an understanding of the course material; satisfactory completion of a course is a grade of C or higher.

C- [1.7; 70 – <73%] Passing work but below required assignment

D  [1.0; 60 – <70%] Quality below required assignment’ incomplete

F  [0.0; 0 – <60%] Failure, no credit

In-class exercises and quizzes, intended to build specific skills that will be needed for projects, are graded on a credit/no-credit basis and submitted at the end of class. 

Sketches are included in the grade analysis and must be provided as part of an assignment. If not provided, a project will not be considered completed and will be graded as such.

Homework

All assignments are due at the beginning of class

Homework is graded at the beginning of class

  • complete (pass)
  • not complete (fail)

Homework assignments are 60% of your grade.
Projects must adhere to documented instructions in a professional manner to earn credit. 

Critiques

The critique is a neutral dialog, students will discuss work using design terminology and discuss strengths and weaknesses based on criteria. A peer response is expected. 

Inattention (private conversations, computer, and phone use, etc) during critique is not acceptable. Students not participating are not present. This will result in a grade reduction.