Study Guide

Descriptions

Structure of studies and study contents
In the Performing Arts Programme studies consist of basic studies, professional studies, elective studies, internship, and thesis work. Professional Studies together with Bachelor’s Thesis work form the educational core of the programme. Professional studies include technical studies, performance studies, pedagogical studies and circus subject studies. Work Practice and Elective Studies support the overall development towards professionalism in performing arts.

Evaluation and feedback
The evaluation of teaching and learning is a continuous and comprehensive process.The quality of teaching and learning is based on feedback discussions, assignments, essays, reports, analysis, and examinations.The feedback discussions include group-based peer evaluation. Also evaluators who are external to the institution can be used.

Once a year, each programme arranges a feedback day, where the feedback material that students have assembled is discussed under the direction of the degree programme manager. The student counselor and teachers also participate in the feedback discussions. Issues raised during the feedback discussion will be used to draw up an action plan, which will be communicated to the students and personnel.

As a rule, the evaluation of study units or courses follows a scale of 1-5, while some study units are evaluated as pass/fail. When the pass/fail evaluation is applied, the implementation plan defines what grade on the 1-5 scale the "pass" corresponds to.

Study counseling is based on the individual study plan (ISP). It is based on the curriculum and every student creates one such ISP with the teacher tutor at the beginning of studies and updates it each year. The ISP helps students deepen their learning according to their interests, and to assess their learning, professional understanding, ideas, and development. Self-evaluation is an integral component of the ISP. Study counselors, tutor students, teacher tutors, programme managers, the entire staff of TUAS, all students, and individuals related to collaboration with the working world guide and support students in their studies. The role and involvement of teachers in student projects varies along the study period. Teacher tutors are usually the teachers who are responsible for each specialization, but all teachers in professional subjects participate in tutoring students in their professional development.

Further information

Evaluation and feedback
Continuous, constructive feedback is at the heart of all performance arts functions. Students are guided to conduct constructive self-critiques and also to develop the ability act as a peer reviewer. Course evaluation criteria are explained to the students at the beginning of each studies plan and in each precise implementation plan, as well as at the beginning of studies. Student feedback is collected, from among other things, in personal counselling sessions, feedback questionnaires and on the annual feedback day.

Course evaluation is assessed according to the personal study plan and is determined in the evaluation framework. The evaluation framework is described in the student’s basic studies phase, as well as in the advanced studies phase on three different levels (1, 3, 5).

Evaluation Framework
INITIAL STUDIES PHASE (1st to 2nd years of study)

First Level Students
•work according to the instructions provided
•can identify the key professional concepts and terminology
•take part in joint discussions
•use the basic techniques and materials of their art field

Third Level Student
•expands their knowledge by taking advantage of their study environment
•knows how to use key, core concepts purposefully
•utilises their previous studies in their work
•can identify ethical and ecological points of departure in their work
•is aware of the artistic criteria in their activities

Level 5 Student
•works in a self-guided and goal oriented manner
•can assess what they have learned in comparison to their previous studies
•develops their professional skills in artistic expression
•can clearly rationalise their artistic views

ADVANCED STUDIES PHASE (3rd and 4th years of study)
Level One Student
•can purposefully follow instructions in their work
•can effortlessly use and apply professional concepts in art productions
•will participate in an open dialogue in community feedback situations
•has mastered the multifaceted professional techniques and equipment of their field of art

Level Three Student
•can identify their own learning style and work on developing it
•will rationally self-assess their own professional competence with regards to skills and abilities
•can creatively integrate and apply their earlier studies in their work
•develops their own skills in accordance with ethical and ecological traditions
•analyses and develops art and educational arts activities

Level Five Student
•masters a wide array of performing arts skills and knowledge, and applies them creatively
•analyses and develops their work habits in their field of art
•will analyse and contribute to development in the arts field
•works professionally and creatively in different jobs in their field of the arts