Alternative and Authentic Assessment
Authentic assessments include portfolios, performance, and observations. How have you used authentic assessment in your online course?
Nicole,
Thank you very much for your post. My university is currently using case studies as an authentic assessment. In my post, I recommended combining the use of a case study with a portfolio. I feel that the case study should be designed in such a way that it generates articles which can be collected in a portfolio.
Sincerely
Jim
Hello Kelly,
I teach business courses. We currently use case studies as our primary authentic assessment tool. However, our CMS has the ability to create and use a portfolio. I believe that it would be beneficial to combine these two assessments. Our students can use the case study to create a series of professional documents which can be combined into a portfolio.
Sincerely
Jim
Authentic assessments focus on asking students to perform real-world tasks that demonstrate meaningful application of essential knowledge and skills. I have applied authentic assessments by offering students opportunities to apply what they have learned to solve real world problems found in case studies and other materials. This drives critical thought and offers the students the opportunity to apply their knowledge and find new solutions.
Thank you,
Dwayne Roark
I have had students measure their bedrooms in area and volume, then calculate the percentage of the building they live in. They also have calculated the volume of their building by using trigonometry, Geometry, and arithmetic. Then, they had to find bags of concreate at a store, and calculate how many bags, and the cost, to build all concreate slabs not covered by their building - - sch as a driveway or patio.
It was a really good real-life project for my students!
Did any of you do something similar to this project with your students?
Sincerely,
Marjorie Thrall Moller
Authentic assessment is used at our University, but is be more easily used in the students' major program courses, or in applied courses.
I teach non-major natural science classes, and we do try to provide a real world slant to our assessments and assignments. In our science labs, there are tasks to complete, so that would include performance based evaluation.
We also try to word research paper assignments with objectives that might be useful in real world settings, such as evaluating alternative energy choices for their homes or businesses or discussing how biotechnology can be applied for individual health issues. Lyn Hoffmann
My classes do not use authentic assessments currently. What I do is encourage the students to bring their real-world experience into their discussions on our discussion board. I have a rubric that I grade the discussion board by, but I feel that many of my students have varied experiences and could really learn from each other by using their real-world examples. My classes are mostly made up of adult learners who have full time jobs and families. They always have so much to offer.
I teach an elective which requires our students to maintain a certain level grade throughout their basic classes. Then we use online webs they need to pass to perform their skill assessment. During their skill assessment they may need to be specific on achieving their goal through completion of fixing a fault on the task or being useful with using a specific tool correctly.
I use problems. I ask questions real life based and the students have to resolve the problems.
Taking into consideration instructor descretion,all instructor should have the ability to asses the student knowledge base. What are some alternatives assessments that you have given to your students?
I mostly use rubrics. Most of my students are working professionals who are in an environment that provides them with real life examples and discussion opportunities that they can share in class. We use the discussion board as a place for students to share what they have seen in their organizations and use the DB as a sounding-board type environment. This allows a 360-feedback system.
Thank you,
Dawn
Karen,
You are using a very successful technique for learning and assessment. It really does "force" students to use the technology in a realistic setting.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Juan ,
What a great technique! That is a great way to have students to stretch their learning. You want them to be able to share so others see application.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Richard,
What will? How do you see yourself using it.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Eric,
I think the portfolio is such a great option for assessment. Students have to make critical decisions on what they think is important. That is an important skill.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Heather,
You are right. It is so important they can take the knowledge and skills to use in the workplace.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Aundrea,
What a great strategy to measure learning. Thank you for sharing. You want to make sure students can use the learning. I too prefer the tie to the workforce. It is so important. It also gives students the opportunities to show how they can use it.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I have used authentic assessments in my online course through virtual labs which allow the student to use various types of software. The simulation allows students to use scenarios that they may see in the real world. This experience helps the student to envision how they will use what they have learned on the job.
Hi Dr. Wilkinson
In the past I have been asking question that are not just open-end, but require a person to use life exercises to support the question. I have seen students learn more from one another in the at matter. It like someone that has walked in your shoes would only understand you. With that thought many more students would provide long black board postings.
This will be a new area for us to also start using
