The ‘wow’ factors: the assessment of practical media and creative arts subjects

This article proposes that within media arts and other practical creative subjects, the ‘wow’ factors have a legitimate place within assessment criteria. Three distinctive considerations of assessment procedures within these subject areas are identified and the QAA benchmarks for the creative arts subjects are examined, noting that the music benchmarks are particularly inspiring. Three practices are suggested as ways of encouraging students to ‘live dangerously’ when doing practical assignments. The piece concludes that media arts and other creative subject areas entail a number of skills and qualities that are going to require subtle assessment procedures.