Assessment and Evaluation

Arts Education

What is the difference between Arts subjects or disciplines and Arts Education?

Arts Education is the umbrella term that includes four arts subjects or disciplines. The Arts subjects or disciplines are: Dance, Drama, Music (includes Band, Choral, Strings/Orchestra, Guitar) and Visual Arts. Manitoba Education and Early Childhood Learning has developed new curricula in these areas (K to Grade 8). These subjects are listed in the Subject Table Handbook. Schools should use the Manitoba curriculum frameworks as the basis of reporting on the Arts subjects offered in their schools.

Do all four Arts Subjects need to be taught and therefore reported (Grades 1 to 8)?

No. Any one or more of the four Arts Education subjects may be taught to meet the arts requirements and report cards have to reflect what was taught. Schools have the flexibility to choose the number and combination of Arts subjects appropriate to their local context, resources, needs, and the Arts Education implementation approach used in the school.At least one Arts Education subject must be reported in its own subject grading box with the four subject categories.

Do schools report on Arts Education programming that is part of other subject instruction?

Only fully implemented Arts frameworks are reported on as a standalone subject, regardless of whether they are taught in an integrated manner or taught separately. Curriculum integration reinforces meaningful connections within and across subjects. While all educators are encouraged to integrate Arts Education learning outcomes across curricular areas where meaningful and appropriate, each Arts framework is considered fully implemented only if all four essential learning areas for any one Arts subject are explored in comprehensive, substantial, and interconnected ways.

Since schools in Manitoba use a variety of approaches for implementing Arts Education, how can different approaches to Arts programming be indicated on the new report card?

Because there are various approaches to Arts Education in Manitoba schools, there are options in the report card for reporting on the Arts. When a particular one or two Arts subjects or disciplines are the focus of instruction over the course of the year, they may be reported as separate subjects using the four subject categories (e.g., Creative Expression).

If multiple (three or more) Arts subjects (e.g., Drama, Music) are offered as part of school programming, student achievement is reported for all but at most two of these subjects under the heading “Arts Education” using a multi-subject grading box. At least one Arts Education subject must be reported in its own subject grading box with the four subject categories. Further detail is found in section 4.4 in the Manitoba Report Card, Support Document, Partners for Learning.

How do schools choose whether to use the single-subject or the multi-subject box for reporting in the Arts?

There is some local discretion. For example, an Arts subject taught throughout the year may be best suited to its own grading box, while two or three subjects taught in rotation (e.g., a different subject during each term) may be best suited to reporting using the multi-subject grading box. Whichever approach is used, a maximum of two grading boxes (with the four subject categories) may be used for reporting on Arts Education and at least one Arts Education subject must be reported in its own subject grading box with the four subject categories.

Are the four essential learning areas or report card categories assessed and evaluated separately?

Although learning in the four categories is reported separately, this learning is integrated as part of teaching and learning experiences that deeply explore all four categories or essential learning areas.

Although each of the four essential learning areas presents a distinct set of learning outcomes, their achievement is not intended to be realized in isolation. The essential learning areas are intended to function in an integrated way with each other so that disciplinary tools and language are connected to how they may be used to create and communicate in the subject, why the Arts subject is important for different times, places, social groups and cultures, and what purpose and meaning the arts subject has for individuals and communities.

How do educators decide which learning outcomes associated with each of the four categories should be reported?

Report card indicators are provided in the Manitoba Report Card Policy and Support Document and are intended to support educators in assessing and evaluating the four categories as part of integrated teaching and learning practice.

The report card indicators are taken directly from the General Learning Outcomes that are associated with each essential learning area represented by the report card categories.

What is the weighting of each of the four Arts Education categories?

Manitoba Education and Early Childhood Learning does not mandate weighting for the four categories but a balance of the four categories is expected to reflect the equal importance and the integrated nature of the four essential learning areas.

What is reported for Arts achievement when the multi-subject grading box is used?

Even though the subject categories are not used for reporting in this scenario, it is expected that they remain in focus when assessing student achievement.

How does an educator report on Arts achievement for students with Individual Education Plans and for whom English is an additional language?

If the focus of learning is different from the grade-level expectations in an Arts subject, please refer to the Manitoba Report Card, Support Document, Partners for Learning, section 4.2.

Where do schools locate curriculum frameworks for the subjects of Dance, Drama, Music, and Visual Arts?

Curriculum frameworks for K-8 Dance, Drama, Music, and Visual Arts are available on the Arts Education website.

Where can educators find course codes for Arts Education?

Course codes are found in the Subject Table Handbook.

What is the Private Music Option and Professional Dance Credit?

Details on the Private music options/credits for Grades 9-12 can be found on the Arts Education website.

The private music option can earn high school students up to a maximum of four credits.

Course codes for the private music option and the professional dance credit (limited to students in the Royal Winnipeg Ballet professional program) are found in the Subject Table Handbook.

Information for schools, parents, and students on the private music option, Royal Winnipeg Ballet Option, SICs, and other matters regarding graduation can be found on the Graduation Requirements web page.