A form of assessment in which students are asked to perform real-world tasks that demonstrate meaningful application of essential knowledge and skills - Jon Mueller
Over reliance on examination, a traditional assessment (TA) practice, does not relate to how learners will engage with assessment in the workplace. With competing demands on students' time, awareness has increased as to the importance of authentic assessment as a means to enhance student motivation and engagement in the curriculum (Healey et al 2014).
Authentic assessment, (AA) usually includes a task for students to complete by which their performance will be evaluated, replicating real world challenges, put into action. Using creative learning experiences to test students' skills and knowledge, AA measures student success in a way that is relevant to the skills required of them once they have finished their studies and transition into the workplace, asking the student to 'do the subject'. Students are given the time to hone their skills, through practice, rehearsal, and consulting resources, and to get feedback on and refine performances and products, requiring students to apply their learning in a complex situation, while assessing their ability to efficiently and effectively use what they have learned. AA empowers and engages students, supporting the growing diversity of students in Higher Education in Ireland.
- In traditional assessment (TA) the curriculum drives assessment, i.e. the knowledge required of learners comes first, which becomes the curriculum and subsequently assessments are developed and administered to determine if acquisition of the curriculum occurred, e.g. multiple choice tests.
- In authentic assessment (AA) the assessment drives the curriculum. Teachers first decide the tasks students must perform to demonstrate their learning and the curriculum is developed to enable students to perform those tasks well including acquisition of knowledge and skills, a backwards planning strategy (e.g. McDonald 1992)
project mission
This team set about creating a MTU specific database resource of sample Authentic Assignments, please see below. The database provides examples that show and contrast authentic assignments. The database is still growing and you are welcome to contribute by emailing your sample authentic assignment to BALI@cit.ie.
team members
- Alanna O' Connor
- Matea Jelas
- Sharon Lehane
- Patricia Doyle
The following student/staff project looked at Authentic vs Traditional Assessment at a departmental level.
- Accounting and Information Systems
- Organisation and Professional Development
- Marketing and International Business
- Management and Enterprise
