New Publication for Music Educators Released by MENC: The National Association for Music Education
Eagerly Anticipated Benchmarks in Action: A Guide to Standards-Based Assessment in Music Special Book-and-CD Set Now Available
March 11, 2003 (PRWEB) March 13, 2003
To help music teachers at all levels develop standards-based assessments, MENC has published the book-and-CD set Benchmarks in Action: A Guide to Standards-Based Assessment in Music (#3041). Covering all nine content standards in the National Standards for Music Education, this material provides examples of fourth-, eighth, and twelfth - gradersÂ’ responses to tasks designed to assess progress toward selected achievement standards.
The benchmark responses, which are actual student work in print or audio form, have been selected for their ability to answer a basic question: “What does student work at this grade level and this level of achievement actually look like?” Along with audio benchmarks, the CD includes music used to stimulate student responses for some of the assessment tasks.
“Benchmarks in Action also describes a step-by-step process for developing and implementing assessments that are based on standards. Whether music teachers use the National Standards or state or district standards that are based on them, they can apply this process to their particular situations,” according to MENC past president and Benchmark Student Performances in Music Project Editor Carolynn A. Lindeman “Additionally, the assessment tasks can be easily linked to comparable standards at the state or local level, so that teachers can develop their own benchmarks for other standards. While the tasks can be administered as written, and students can be assessed based on the given benchmarks, the aim of the project is to enable teachers to develop their own assessments and identify appropriate benchmarks.”
“Benchmarks in Action is an important publication because it offers models for benchmarks-based assessment. Regardless of what standards are used, benchmarks are very helpful in making clear to students, school administrators and parents the nature and quality of the learning expected. Standards require assessment, and assessment, done well, requires benchmarks. The task of implementing standards is not complete without benchmarks,” says Paul R. Lehman, also MENC past president, who serves as project consultant. Leading the nine Benchmark committees are MENC members Timothy S. Brophy, David E. Circle, Marilyn C. Davidson, George DeGraffenreid, Marcia M. Neel, Glenn Nierman, Natalie Ozeas, Carroll Rinehart, and Carolee Stewart.
This new book-and-CD set is the second publication from the Benchmark project. Last spring, MENC published Composing and Arranging: Standard 4 Benchmarks (#1671). Both publications are available from MENC Publications Sales.
To order these and other MENC resources call 1-800-828-0229 or visit www. menc. org
MENC, the worldÂ’s largest arts education organization, is the only association that addresses all aspects of music education. Nearly 100,000 members represent all levels of teaching from preschool to graduate school. Since 1907, MENC has worked to ensure that every student has access to a well-balanced, comprehensive, and high-quality program of music instruction taught by qualified teachers. MENCÂ’s activities and resources have been largely responsible for the establishment of music education as a profession, for the promotion and guidance of music study as an integral part of the school curriculum, and for the development of the National Standards for Arts Education.
