Authentic Assessment
Overview |
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Assessments are an essential component of any learning activity; not only do they measure student competence, they also provide important feedback to the instructor about the success of their teaching methods. The authenticity of these assessments has a big effect on learning transfer -- whether the learning will be remembered and used correctly after the training is complete (Caffarella, 2013; Wlodkowski, 2017).
Authentic assessments start with defining the objectives of a lesson (Brown & Green, 2016). What should learners be able to do upon completion of the learning activities? How will they need to access knowledge from the class? These questions can help us construct assessment questions and activities in a way that mimics how learners will need to recall the information, leading to greater transfer of learning. |
Examples and Tips -- click on each tab to explore |
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In many training courses, an end-of-class written exam is the main way facilitators assess their learners. While it can be difficult to craft questions that encourage the authentic use of learned knowledge, there are many tips that can help:
Interested in learning more about creating authentic questions for written exams? Click on the buttons below to check out some additional resources: There are many options to choose from when designing performance tasks that authentically assess learner knowledge and skills. Examples include physical demonstrations, projects, portfolios, and action plans -- anything that allows the learner to showcase their skills and judgement in an environment that mimics the real world (Wlokdowski, 2017). Developing and evaluating these kinds of assessments will take more time and effort than, say, a multiple choice exam; however, performance-based assessments have a much greater chance of engaging learners and promoting successful learning transfer.
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Other Considerations |
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References |
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