Unit 1: Authentic Assessment?
Authentic Assessement
In this unit, you will learn the characteristics of an Authentic Assessment and look at some examples.
By the end of this unit, participants should be able to:
- identify the characteristics of an authentic assessment
- identify some examples of authentic assessment
Lesson 1: What do I know about Authentic Assessment?
KWL Chart: Before we begin, please click the link below to contribute to our collaborative KWL chart. You will each record what you know and what you would like to know about Authentic Assessment.
Reflect: What do you know about Authentic Assessment? Have you see it done well? What examples are you aware of? How could you use it in your own language classroom? What do you want to know about Authentic Assessment?
Authentic Assessment KWL Chart
Lesson 2: What is Authentic Assessment?
First, in order to get an understanding of Authentic Assessments and its benefits, watch the following video from Teachings in Education.
Authentic Assessment: Examples & Overview
Next, read the following excerpts from "Authentic Assessment of Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes" by Brenda C. Litchfield and John V. Dempsey.
"Assessment! No one likes it, but everyone has to do it. It is a necessary part of teaching and learning and, for the most part, has not changed for hundreds of years. Teaching and learning have undergone reforms, improvements, programs, initiatives, and directions, yet the objective test has held its ground as the preferred assessment method in tertiary education around the world... To be competitive in the global economy, these countries are finding that the centuries-old model of education with its emphasis on rote learning and objective testing is not adequately preparing their students. A new focus has been placed on creativity and problem solving. The introduction of general education course requirements in particular is based on developing students’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes beyond the usual, narrowly focused curriculum of the past. This more comprehensive approach to teaching and learning necessitates new methods of assessment." (Dempsey & Litchfield, pg. 65)
"The key to using assessment to revise and improve teaching and learning is to select the right assessment. This is not objective assessment but rather authentic assessment. In authentic assessment, students learn the content and then apply it to meaningful and relevant tasks. Simply acquiring knowledge through memorization and lecture is not suf- cient to demonstrate the essential skills necessary to be successful in a particular field or profession. What is the purpose of a college degree if the skills to perform in the real world have not been mastered? How often are people in a workplace given four distinct options to choose among when they are working in a group to solve a problem or create a product? Life is not a rigid, four-option, multiple-choice endeavor. Authentic assessment strongly emphasizes metacognition and processing of information, which is the key to learning (Azim and Khan 2012) and developing higher-order thinking skills (Koh, Tan, and Ng 2012).
Life consists of a myriad of options, problems, situations, and circumstances that require analysis, critical thinking, problem solving, and synthesis. These skills are developed through multiple interactions with others in collaborative activities. In order for students to be successful after they graduate, they must be prepared and guided through opportunities to develop these skills." (Dempsey & Litchfield, pg. 69)
Reference:
Dempsey, J. V., Litchfield, B. C. (2015). Authentic Assessment of Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes. New Directions For Teaching & Learning, 2015(142), 65-80.
Lesson 3: What does Authentic Assessment look like?
Now, click on the following links to see some examples of Authentic Assessment in the Modern Language classroom. This link leads to the National Education Association's "Authentic Assessment Toolbox" which includes teacher-created examples of tasks, rubrics, portfolios that are used for Authentic Assessments. Browse the "Foreign Language" page by clicking the link below and looking at examples that are interesting and relevant to you.
High School Foreign Language Authentic Assessment Examples
Reflect What new information have you learned about Authentic Assessment? What do you still want to know?
Now, you may move on to Unit 2
Or, go back to home page