The purpose of this research study was to investigate the attitudes and usages of assessment methods by elementary visual art teachers in two southeastern school districts. Data consisted of responses to a mailed survey instrument that included relevant demographic information pertaining to respondent's educational preparation experiences, tabulation of classroom activities, assessment usage, and a construct set of questions which addressed an attitudinal scale about the effectiveness of evaluation and measurement within their visual art classrooms. The primary focus of attitudinal orientation toward assessment centered upon the types of role models respondents encountered regarding assessment during initial teacher preparation and the resulting paradigm of belief concerning measurement art teachers experienced in varied educational settings. Results indicate that study respondents had a strong positive response to the construct attitudinal statements about accepting evaluation as a normative practice in their classrooms. The survey item "multiple choice tests are appropriate to use in visual art classrooms" had a strong relationship to the total reliability and had the greatest impact on the factor analysis. Further relationships were identified in the use of newly adopted textbook curricula to the acceptance of the statement "learning could be measured in visual art," suggesting that if art teachers embraced a textbook curriculum (developed through an outside, expert entity) they were more likely to accept the possibility that learning in elementary visual art classrooms was possible to be measured. The relationship between the statements regarding the acceptance of multiple choice tests as a valid method of assessment and the recentness of either graduation from teacher preparation coursework or specific in-service professional development about assessment also suggests that pedagogy at the university and district level after The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 was more likely to include instruction or role models in the practical use of assessment techniques for respondents.

This study investigates one teacher’s strategies and use of critical inquiry skills whilst teaching a senior art class about contemporary artworks. It has sought to identify the strengths and challenges one teacher faces whilst teaching contemporary artworks through a postmodern art curriculum. It looks at thinking and learning opportunities through critically responsive teaching and seeks to recognize the importance of an innovative and imaginative approach. / The research process comprised gathering information through a series of interviews and observations of one teacher over five consecutive theoretical lessons. The results of these recorded interviews as well as the observational notes and transcriptions provided me with ample data for analysis and discussion. The students’ responses were analysed in terms of the VCE art curriculum’s requirements using the interpretive frameworks and for the development of critical thinking in the study of postmodern list art. / The results indicate that developing thinking skills contributes to a students ability to problem solve and make decisions. Strategies for thinking and learning are enhanced in a quality learning environment which challenges students, promotes reflection and critical inquiry and involves students in meaningful learning opportunities. This study has shown how studying contemporary art contributes to overall development of the mind through innovative pedagogy. It has also shown that traditional teaching approaches to art curriculum design framed by postmodern perspectives have the ability provide students with comprehensive and interesting learning opportunities. / The significance of this study is that it has shown that the new curriculum with its emphasis on the interpretive frameworks can be taught with traditional methods. As the teacher gains confidence with the method he is also able to expand his approaches and adapt his teaching style to facilitate a productive outcome. This is seen in the growth of thinking skills and knowledge revealed by this small group of students in an outer metropolitan Victorian secondary school.