Each year Visual Arts teachers from schools across NSW come to the Homebush HSC Visual Arts marking centre to learn about the practical marking operation.

Nearly 200 Visual Arts teachers from towns including Coffs Harbour, Glen Innes, Guyra, Dubbo, Molong, Parkes, Broulee, Booragul, Ulladulla and Wagga Wagga visited the centre earlier this month.

During the visit teachers learned about procedures for marking, including the range and the nature of works submitted this year, standards-referenced marking, advice about syllabus content, course prescriptions and monitoring works.

Teachers were able to tour the marking centre in small groups guided by an experienced senior marker and viewed benchmark works for each expressive form.

The senior markers explained various processes in the marking of Visual Arts works such as the development of the sets of benchmarks for each expressive form and the ways in which the standards in the marking guidelines are exemplified by the benchmarks.

The visit also included an opportunity to watch a selection of time-based forms submissions that used a variety of techniques including stop-motion animation and digital manipulation.

“The great turnout is an indication of how much teachers value the opportunity to visit the marking centre and to see the range of artworks made by students for the HSC each year,” said Rhonda Clarke, Supervisor of Marking for Visual Arts.

“For new teachers the visit has provided insight into the marking process, and the advice teachers can provide for students throughout the development of their Visual Arts works."

The 9692 students enrolled in the HSC Visual Arts course will sit their written exam on Wednesday 10 November. Visual Arts is the final written HSC exam for 2010.