Test Design and
Test Framework
Field 209: Dance
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The test design below describes general test information. The framework that follows is a detailed outline that explains the knowledge and skills that this test measures.
Test Design
| Format | Computer-based test (CBT) |
|---|---|
| Number of Questions | 100 multiple-choice questions |
| Time* | 3 hours, 15 minutes |
| Passing Score | 240 |
*Does not include 15-minute CBT tutorial
Test Framework
Pie chart of approximate test weighting outlined in the table below.
| Test Subarea | Number of Test Objectives | Number of Scorable Items | Number of Non-Scorable Items | subarea weight as percent of total test score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subarea 1—The Basic Vocabulary of Dance | 3 | 17 | 4 | 21percent |
| Subarea 2—Dance Creation and Production | 3 | 17 | 4 | 21percent |
| Subarea 3—Safe Movement Practices and Dance Forms | 3 | 17 | 4 | 21percent |
| Subarea 4—The Role of Dance | 3 | 17 | 4 | 21percent |
| Subarea 5—Dance Education | 2 | 12 | 4 | 15percent |
| Totals | 14 | 80 | 20 | 100percent |
Subarea 1—The Basic Vocabulary of Dance
Objective 0001—Understand the elements of dance.
For example:
- Demonstrate knowledge of elements related to the body (e.g., body parts, actions, shapes, relationships).
- Demonstrate knowledge of elements related to space (e.g., level, direction, pathway, facings).
- Demonstrate knowledge of elements related to time (e.g., tempo, rhythm, beat).
- Demonstrate knowledge of elements related to energy (e.g., flow, weight, force, dynamics, efforts).
Objective 0002—Understand principles of movement and technical skills in dance.
For example:
- Identify nonlocomotor and locomotor movements.
- Demonstrate understanding of kinesthetic awareness and spatial awareness.
- Apply principles and processes important in the development of technical skills in dance (e.g., body alignment, core support, clarity of movement, use of imagery).
Objective 0003—Understand dance as a way to express and communicate.
For example:
- Recognize and apply appropriate terminology to analyze, interpret, and critique dance.
- Identify the expressive qualities of dance (e.g., emotion, mood, dynamics, focus) and how ideas and emotions are expressed in dance.
- Analyze how choreographic devices and dance structures contribute to expression and communication in dance.
- Analyze how production elements (e.g., costumes, lighting, accompaniment, performance space and setting) contribute to expression and communication in dance.
Subarea 2—Dance Creation and Production
Objective 0004—Understand the organizational principles of dance composition.
For example:
- Recognize the basic compositional elements used in dance creation (e.g., space, time, energy, dynamics, musicality).
- Apply elements of composition in organizing choreography (e.g., phrase, theme, design, motif development).
- Apply the principles of artistic design (e.g., repetition, contrast, unity, sequence, rhythm, transition) in choreography.
Objective 0005—Understand the choreographic process.
For example:
- Identify the characteristics of choreographic devices (e.g., repetition, retrograde, cannon, call and response).
- Identify the characteristics of various dance structures (e.g., A B, A B A, rondo, theme and variation).
- Recognize the applications of movement exploration and improvisation in the choreographic process.
- Recognize ways technology can be used in the choreographic process.
- Identify factors that influence choice-making in the creation of choreography (e.g., accompaniment, dancers' skill level, dance style, performance space, audience).
Objective 0006—Understand the production of dance.
For example:
- Analyze the processes necessary for performing dance (e.g., recalling, rehearsing, revising).
- Recognize methods for and benefits of critiquing dance performance (e.g., peer, self, teacher critique).
- Identify production elements (e.g., makeup, costumes, lighting, props) in dance performance.
- Recognize how media and technologies are used in dance performance.
- Identify careers related to the production of dance (e.g., artistic director, lighting designer, stage manager, sound crew).
Subarea 3—Safe Movement Practices and Dance Forms
Objective 0007—Understand human anatomy and apply principles of kinesiology.
For example:
- Identify major muscles, muscle groups, and skeletal structures of the human body and their functions.
- Apply basic principles of movement (e.g., flexion, extension, rotation, abduction, adduction).
- Identify basic principles of kinesiology (e.g., levers, balance, weight) and analyze how skeletal alignment and body mechanics apply to efficient movement.
Objective 0008—Understand principles of physical conditioning, safety, and health in dance.
For example:
- Identify principles and practices for improving strength, flexibility, agility, and balance.
- Demonstrate understanding of common types and causes of dance injuries.
- Identify safe movement practices (e.g., warm up, cool down) and apply principles of injury prevention and care.
- Recognize basic health and nutritional practices for maintaining a healthy body, energy, and stamina.
Objective 0009—Understand performance techniques of various dance forms.
For example:
- Identify vocabulary related to various dance forms (e.g., ballet, modern, jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, tap, cultural, and social dance).
- Identify distinguishing characteristics of various dance forms (e.g., ballet, modern, jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, tap, cultural, and social dance).
Subarea 4—The Role of Dance
Objective 0010—Understand the role of dance in a variety of cultures.
For example:
- Identify the role and function of dance and movement (e.g., ritual, celebration) in various cultures from different historical periods.
- Recognize how dance shapes and reflects a variety of cultures.
Objective 0011—Understand the history of dance.
For example:
- Recognize important influences, developments, and innovations in the history of various dance forms.
- Recognize how technological changes have influenced dance.
- Recognize how societal changes have influenced dance and how dance influences society.
Objective 0012—Understand dance as an art form and the relationship of dance to other subject areas.
For example:
- Recognize similar and distinct characteristics within and across all art forms (i.e., dance, drama/theatre arts, music, visual arts, and media arts).
- Demonstrate knowledge of the relationship between dance and other art forms.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the relationship between dance and other subject areas (e.g., social sciences, language arts, science, mathematics).
Subarea 5—Dance Education
Objective 0013—Understand principles of dance education and constructive learning environments.
For example:
- Recognize the importance of dance education in the school curriculum (e.g., philosophical foundations, contributions to learning).
- Apply standards-based lessons, curricula, and best practices in dance education.
- Recognize ways to create a safe physical and emotional environment in teaching dance in a school setting.
- Demonstrate knowledge of strategies for continuing study, self-evaluation, and professional growth as a dance teacher.
Objective 0014—Understand strategies for teaching and assessing dance in a school setting.
For example:
- Apply developmentally appropriate content and methods for dance instruction.
- Recognize theories of child development and psychological principles of learning.
- Apply strategies for promoting creative- and critical-thinking in dance learning.
- Analyze methods and benefits of giving and receiving feedback and encouraging students to reflect on their work in dance.
- Apply methods for the assessment of skills and learning in dance.