Evaluation

Aims of the evaluation

The purpose of evaluating the art projects is not just quality assurance but also scientific research. Very little is known about the educational effect of art projects in schools, particularly with disadvantaged children and adolescents. The projects related to this application offer the opportunity to establish the educational benefit of such artistic activities for underprivileged pupils using empirical methodology. This in-depth evaluation of the work of art projects will provide new insights into the role art can play in dealing with disadvantaged pupils. At the same time, assessment can indicate the necessary conditions and the didactic and methodological parametres that can lead to a successful implementation of such art projects in schools.

The evaluation process

The hypothetical framework of this assessment will be based on the following factors:

1. a description of the social and personal situation of the relevant pupils based on information from school files aa well as personal interviews with pupils and teachers regarding their development and their strengths and weaknesses.
2. full documentary evidence of the project and its implementation
3. the comments of pupils involved, based on diaries or questionnaires completed by the teachers; a precise description of each pupil's progress provided by the artist responsible; the diaries written by the pupils themselves.
4. a questionnaire carried out by the teachers of the pupils' reactions and experiences during the course of the project.
5. a further survey, taken after the completion of the project but within 6 months, relating to the enduring effects of the project; a final survey of teachers' comments and observations with regard to changes in behaviour and learning performance amongst the pupils.

Stages 2 and 3 will be assessed on an ongoing basis. They can provide feedback on the progress of the project and the opportunity to fine-tune where necessary. After the first series of projects, the evaluation of stage 4 will provide information which will help to optimize the next series of projects (quality development).

Results and implications

The projects aims to broaden our limited knowledge of the educational effect that art projects and artistic activities can have and their inherent possibilities. This should provide useful guidelines for the implementation of such projects to anyone working with underprivileged groups in an educational context.