1f2n3n

FREE Article - 1st of 3 Free Items

View 2 more resources at no cost, and then subscribe for full access.

Authentic Assessment

In 1935, the distinguished educator Ralph Tyler proposed an "enlarged concept of student evaluation," encompassing other approaches besides tests and quizzes. He urged teachers to sample learning by collecting products of their efforts throughout the year. That practice has evolved into what is today termed "authentic assessment," which encompasses a range of approaches including portfolio assessment, journals and logs, products, videotapes of performances, and projects.

Authentic assessments have many potential benefits. Diane Hart, in her excellent introduction to Authentic Assessment: A Handbook for Educators, suggested the following benefits:

  1. Students assume an active role in the assessment process. This shift in emphasis may result in reduced test anxiety and enhanced self-esteem.
  2. Authentic assessment can be successfully used with students of varying cultural backgrounds, learning styles, and academic ability.
  3. Tasks used in authentic assessment are more interesting and reflective of students' daily lives.
  4. Ultimately, a more positive attitude toward school and learning may evolve.
  5. Authentic assessment promotes a more student-centered approach to teaching.
  6. Teachers assume a larger role in the assessment process than through traditional testing programs. This involvement is more likely to assure the evaluation process reflects course goals and objectives.
  7. Authentic assessment provides valuable information to the teacher on student progress as well as the success of instruction.
  8. Parents will more readily understand authentic assessments than the abstract percentiles, grade equivalents, and other measures of standardized tests.
Authentic assessments are new to most students. They may be suspicious at first; years of conditioning with paper-pencil tests, searching for the single right answer, are not easily undone. Authentic assessments require a new way of perceiving learning and evaluation. The role of the teacher also changes. Specific assignments or tasks to be evaluated and the assessment criteria need to be clearly identified at the start. It may be best to begin on a small scale. Introduce authentic assessments in one area (for example, on homework assignments) and progress in small steps as students adapt.

Develop a record-keeping system that works for you. Try to keep it simple, allowing students to do as much of the work as feasible.

Types of Authentic Assessment
Performance Assessment
Portfolio Assessment
Self-Assessment

Excerpted from Classroom Teacher's Survival Guide.

Highlights

July Events

Find educational resources for every day in July. Fill your July lessons with activities for the Summer, Independence Day (July 4), First World Cup Soccer Tournament (July 13), Ice Cream Day (July 19), First Moon Landing (July 20), Parents Day (July 26), and Beatrix Potter's Birthday (July 28).

Make Learning Fun with Sylvan

Introducing all-new Sylvan Workbooks and Learning Kits. Help children catch up, keep up, and get ahead! Click here to learn more about Sylvan Learning Products.

Free Summer Learning Guides – Gr. K-6

Make sure that your incoming students are prepared for the new school year with these packets of fun activities and skill-builders — perfect summer activities to prepare for back-to-school.

What Can Dominican U. Do for You?

Classroom Teachers: Regionally Accredited Dominican University can help keep your career on course with a MAEd in ESL, Elementary Ed, or Reading—100% online. Earn your MAEd in as little as 18 months! Find out more.

Dealing with Germs in the Classroom

Communicable diseases spread quickly among students in the classroom. We've gathered printables and advice for germ prevention in school. Find tips on how to keep your classroom clean and educate students on preventing diseases, from Swine flu to the common cold.

Educational Clip Art

TeacherVision and DK have teamed up to offer you DK's widely-recognized photographs as downloadable clip art. Find images for the human body, space, holidays, ancient Rome, and more. Feel free to use this clip art for school projects, reports, to create holiday cards, or just for fun!

Top-Ranked Educational Program—100% Online

Equip your faculty with today's best practices through an MS in Curriculum and Instruction or an MS in Educational Administration—100% online from The University of Scranton. Find out more!


Join TeacherVision
for $39.95 a year and start receiving benefits today!
Free 7-Day Trial

Free 7-Day Trial for TeacherVision®

Sign up for a free trial and get access
to our huge library of teaching materials!
Start Trial