Directing Model Cornerstone Assessment

Title:  Directing
Grade Level:  High School Advanced
Authors:  Michael Dixon and Amie Kisling
Artistic Processes:  Creating, Performing, Responding, Connecting

Task Description:  Students will learn to prepare a director’s notebook by analyzing a familiar play; then apply these techniques to analyze and direct a 3-5 minute scene. They will analyze and interpret the scene. They will create a design concept that incorporates all technical elements. Students will collaborate with actors, block and rehearse their scene for a performance for their peers. Students will compile a directing notebook that documents their process. After completion students will reflect on their journey and learning.

Evidence of student learning:  Student directed performance, individual student script analysis, notebook and reflection

"Directing" demonstrates ways to measure student learning in theatre using the development of a student directed performance as a tool for instruction and assessment. This Model Cornerstone Assessment (MCA) is based on a unit which was piloted in the classroom by the authors. Although in an MCA the emphasis is on the evaluation tools, an MCA does offer enough information for any teacher to create a similar unit of their own. Click on "View the full MCA" below to see strategies for embedding in instruction as a guide for re-creating this unit and assessment customized for your classroom. 

MCAs model effective assessment practice and demonstrate that teaching theatre is specific, rigorous, and measurable by sharing a glimpse into one teacher's classroom. The MCAs on this website come packaged with a suggested strategy for assessing student learning, types of evidence to collect, model rubrics, and samples of student work demonstrating their process and learning. The samples of student work illustrate the unit in action by providing a snapshot of a moment in time showing student response to instruction.   

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