Authentic Assessment

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.

About the author  ⁄ On Purpose Associates

18 Comments

  • Reply
    July 26, 2012


    You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation however I in finding this matter to be really something which I think I would by no means understand. It sort of feels too complicated and very wide for me. I’m taking a look ahead to your next submit, I will attempt to get the cling of it!

  • Reply
    Kyisha
    October 16, 2011


    Great article…it will be extremely helpful for me as I work towards becoming an educator. Thanks!!

  • Reply
    Melinda
    October 13, 2011


    I am intrigued by your website; however, there is a bar that appears across the page that covers important text and I cannot find a way to remove it? Is this intended?

  • Reply
    praise
    June 28, 2011


    good..nice one!!!keep on moving

  • Reply
    Joey Hermosa
    April 4, 2011


    Thanks for sharing your ideas about the authentic assessment. Its very helpful to us who studying for the teaching profession. We are lucky to read articles like this.

  • Reply
    janina
    February 12, 2011


    ‘ i’m looking forward for more articles in this website.. this one is nice =)

  • Reply
    REX ROBERTS
    July 4, 2010


    I can’t think of a situation where I would administer a norm-referenced test. Every student’s thought process and effort is his own and should not be judged against another’s.

  • Reply
    mary gold
    January 6, 2010


    - this is great..!=D this article is nice! It gives me an idea or should i say it informed me about what authentic assessment is.. ;-)

    - thank you for sharing..!

  • Reply
    chriz
    December 14, 2009


    …nice article!!

  • Reply
    A.Ll.Egam
    November 26, 2009


    Hello !

    You have a very nice article !
    It gives me more knowledge about authentic assessment.

    Thanks !

  • Reply
    jhea..
    September 21, 2009


    We, teachers must learn how to use authentic assessment for a better holistic formation of each individual, our students. This includes group activities/cooperative learning,thought-provoking games,and it is based more on the performance of the students.
    Let’s leave the traditional way and be adaptable from these changes happenin’ in our society. Let’s accept the fact that we should teach our students accrdng. to their interest, ability and skills and not only insisting what “I” want to teach…
    This will surely be an effective way of teaching-learning process just be creative.
    Frm:
    jhea
    3BSED-RelEd

  • Reply
    Rovie
    August 14, 2009


    .the article gave me ideas in answering my assignment.
    Thank you.,
    Very informative.

  • Reply
    LORIE
    August 9, 2009


    its nice…informative!
    thank you so much.

  • Reply
    Cha
    July 26, 2009


    thanks, this article refreshed my memory. :)

  • Reply
    admin
    December 17, 2008


    To fully answer your question, I’d have to know more about the situation you are looking to assess. Authentic assessment is an approach to assessment based on getting a real-world demonstration of learning. Let’s say you were teaching math. Someone who wants to practice authentic assessment would not assess through a multiple choice test. Instead, the assessment would require the student to demonstrate proficiency through his or her ability to make change at a school store, for example.

  • Reply
    Rowel R. Caiña
    December 16, 2008


    Im a College student here in Lourdes College.. Philippines,Cagayan de Oro City…I would like to ask further more about Authentic Assessment…
    Does doing an Anuthentic Assessment would really mean to assess the learning of the learners/students?
    need your response…thanks….and add me in my yahoo account…..

  • Reply
    ayo otegbola
    December 10, 2008


    you have a very good article equiping and upgrading teachers for effective practice

    ayo

  • Reply
    gatsby
    December 9, 2008


    hello, your articles are nice. It helps a lot to me as a teacher

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