Authentic assessment engages students in real-world tasks that demonstrate their knowledge and skills, requiring them to apply what they've learned to meaningful, discipline-relevant scenarios. Review the following approaches to integrating authentic assessment in your online courses.
Authentic Assessment
1. Real-World Tasks
Design assignments that require students to apply their learning to real-world scenarios and allow for multiple approaches and diverse perspectives. Examples include case studies, research projects, and community-based projects that address current issues.
Authentic assessments reinforce connections between key course concepts and your students’ future lives.
2. Simulations and Role-Playing
Use these activities to immerse students in realistic situations. This encourages critical thinking and problem-solving skills while applying theoretical knowledge in a practical context. For example, students could take on different organizational roles in a group project or use AI to simulate a debate with a historical figure.
3. Learning Journals
Assign students to reflect on their learning over time, which encourages metacognition and helps students make connections to their professional and personal lives. Possible prompts include:
- Reflect on a recent group project: Describe how the collaboration and communication skills you used in this project can be applied in a professional team setting. What strategies did you find most effective for working with your peers, and how can these be used in your future career?
- Analyze a case study: Consider our recent case study. Discuss how the solutions you proposed can be implemented in a real-world context. What potential challenges might arise, and how would you address them?
4. Presentations
As a culminating activity, ask students to present their work within a learning portfolio or class presentation. Presentations and demonstrations allow students to articulate their understanding, synthesize concepts, and receive feedback as they will in a real-world setting.
Take the next step: Talk with DOE to learn more about integrating authentic assessment without overwhelming your students (or yourself).