Definition
Simply testing an
isolated skill or a
retained fact does not
effectively measure a
student's capabilities. To
accurately evaluate what a
person has learned, an
assessment method must
examine his or her
collective abilities. This
is what is meant by
authentic assessment.
Authentic assessment
presents students with
real-world challenges that
require them to apply
their relevant skills and
knowledge.
Basic Elements
Authentic assessment
accomplishes each of the
following goals:
Requires students to
develop responses rather
than select from
predetermined options
Elicits higher order
thinking in addition to
basic skills
Directly evaluates
holistic projects
Synthesizes with
classroom instruction
Uses samples of
student work
(portfolios) collected
over an extended time
period
Stems from clear
criteria made known to
students
Allows for the
possibility of multiple
human judgments
Relates more closely
to classroom learning
Teaches students to
evaluate their own work
"Fairness" does not
exist when assessment is
uniform, standardized,
impersonal, and absolute.
Rather, it exists when
assessment is
appropriate--in other
words, when it's
personalized, natural, and
flexible; when it can be
modified to pinpoint
specific abilities and
function at the relevant
level of difficulty; and
when it promotes a rapport
between examiner and
student.
Authentic assessment is
designed to be
criterion-referenced
rather than
norm-referenced. Such
evaluation identifies
strengths and weaknesses,
but does not compare or
rank students.
Authentic assessment is
often based on
performance: Students are
asked to demonstrate their
knowledge, skills, or
competencies in whatever
way they find appropriate.
There are several
challenges to using
authentic assessment
methods. They include
managing its
time-intensive nature,
ensuring curricular
validity, and minimizing
evaluator bias.
Recommended Reading
Fourth Generation
Evaluation, by Egon G.
Guba and Yvonna S.
Lincoln. Newberry Park,
CA: Sage Publications.
The content on this page was written
by On Purpose Associates in
http://www.funderstanding.com/authentic_assessment.cfm.
