One of the challenges in the field of art education is how to assess student progress while recognizing the highly personal nature of creative expression, and the subjectivity of interpretation. In foundational courses, the development of technical ability is usually the main objective, in which case evaluation is based on adherence to formal principles, conventions, and industry standards. I present these fundamental concepts as building blocks or tools, rather than hard rules. Once mastered, they can be used just as intended to great effect, but also played with in different ways, or even discarded. For example, in an introductory photography course, conventional composition and exposure is paramount. I feel that it's important to emphasize that limitations often enhance creativity. In advanced courses, especially in ones where disciplinary boundaries are fuzzy, feedback is more nuanced.