The foundation for this rubric rests on a six point scale for Use of Medium developed by a statewide arts assessment design team in 1996.  The scale comes from the Vermont standards for artistic proficiency and use of medium:

5.28 Students use art forms to communicate, showing the ability to define and solve artistic problems with insight, reason, and technical proficiency.

5.30 Students use a variety of visual arts media (e.g., clay, tempera, watercolor, paper mache, animation, computer-aided design, video) to show an understanding of the different properties each possesses.

 In 1998, a group of WEB Project artists and teachers adapted the original rubric to represent a medium-specific rubric for digital art.  During a 3 day retreat, they tested the rubric against actual student work.  They built a continuum to help students and teachers, showing examples of work created at various levels of skill development.  Photoshop is the primary tool used by students to produce the pieces exemplified here.

During the school year of 1998-1999 a group of students field tested the rubric.  Scott Chesnut, a graphic artist and online mentor, then provided another review and critique. With additional student input and the help of Verandah Porche, John McSweeney, Beth Hughes, Penny Nolte and Fern Tavalin, the commentary was reworded to show what is currently on display.

All images presented came from student postings for online discussions.  Images have been left at the sizes assigned by students when they uploaded.

Please use this rubric as a sliding scale, thinking of the Levels as markers.  Only "Use of Medium" is being assessed, so the score does not reflect "how good a piece is" in terms of its overall quality (the integration of expression, technique, use of media and use of the elements and principles of design).  We have found the rubric invaluable as a tool for professional development.