Dr. Kelly,
Based on the lesson, authentic assessment looks to accomplish several goals; of those listed, one is that students will use higher order thinking. In this exercise, in order to be successful, you must to analyze the text, even though it is a predetermined option for the answer.
Plagiarism can be easier with today's technology. The test is rarely passed in two tries because most students think plagiarism is about direct copying and not necessarily lack of or incorrect citations.
Dr. Vessel
Hi Dr. Wilkinson,
In my opinion, authentic assessment should be the primary form of assessment to determine student’s knowledge, skills, or competencies. I teach graduate level accounting courses and to ensure that students master certain competencies I utilize portfolios, performance, and observations to evaluate their progress in a course. At the beginning of the course, students are required to review annual financial statements and create a portfolio. As the course progresses, we study the rational of all the items in the financial statements and students are required to update their portfolios accordingly. Half way into the semester, I ask students to go online to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) website to download the financial statement of any company of their interest and then analyze and evaluate the company’s performance for the year. This type of assessment exposes students to real life company financial statements and enables them to evaluate their performance based on the results of their analysis. Students are required to review their portfolio if they have questions regarding how to perform required financial statement analysis.
Dr. Wilkinson,
In my online Math and Computer courses, I have used real-world projects and assignments.
Students are given the opportunity to implement their learning, knowledge, and skills in order to make group observations, solve real-life problems, and demonstrate meaningful application.
-Khal
I have not but am curious about portfolios - I think they have a lot of potential value.
In our school we have with observations however those observations are from other instructors sitting in classes and evaluating the class. Other than that I have not used this type of assessment
Jerri,
It does add so much to the discussion. You want to make sure students can make the connection between class content and the real world.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
In the allied health field we sometimes have students who have worked in one area of healthcare and want to branch into an adjacent area. This previous knowledge provides an added perspective that I sometimes use in class with discussions and in subjective assessments.
Michelle,
That is such a great way to show students what they have learned. So many times we as educators can see the progression but we need the students to see it. Don't you love seeing them comment about their work. It is also a great way to teach students to be able evaluate their own work.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
The university I teach for uses Student Portfolios for authentic assessments. The students have access to all prior work. I encourage the students to compare past work with present work. Most students will immediately see the progression that has been made from one semester to the next and especially recognize the progression from year to year. It is often the tool I need to encourage those ready to graduate to pursue the next level of education be that a Bachelor's degree or Master's degree.
Robin ,
It is pretty authentic! When you have them incorporate their learning in their real world you are helping them make that connection that is so important.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Cynthia,
Interesting, how would that be considered authentic assessment?
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Donald,
I would love to take your course!!!! I agree with you. To really get project management you have to use case based, scenario based learning. You have to let them see the role all part of project management play and what happens when a part goes down. You can't do that with an objective exam.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Generally what I try to during the course is to encourage the students to discuss their actual work experience in the discussion thread as it relates to the material. While this may not be a true authentic assessment, I think it is about as close as the course I teach comes to this. I will be looking for was to implement this type of assessment.
My use of authentic assessments is with having students use an interactive website to learn and test for plagiarism. This site was introduced by another instructor and embedded into the course.
Dr. Vessel
For the past 10 years, my school has used authentic assessments. In the courses that I teach, project management, I prefer authentic assessment. The assignments are scenario-based, and the assignments give students an opportunity to employ the knowledge that they have learned in dealing with real-life situations. Personally, I think that usch experience in invaluable.
I think that the use of objective assessments in a project management couse is probably counter productive. Students typically have no knowledge of project management, and hence would most likely have difficulty with objective assessments. On the other hand, if the students had extensive project management experience, then an objective assessment would probably have more value.
Kelly,
Don't you think the skill of learning how to objectively evaluate your own work and others and being able to make decision s based on that is such a powerful skill that will be used in the real world? I don't have a problem with providing both good and bad examples of a project. I do know some of my visual arts instructors feel it stifles creativity. It is an interesting debate.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
I use portfolio as an assessment. It is an appropriate evaluation for the student, class sharing and overall progress for he teacher as well. The student also learns how to evaluate their own work as well as others.
Should visual art students be provided with finished completed visual examples before starting a project?
Lindsay,
I agree with you. They do have to take a research topic and make it relevant to them. They become the expert in the topic. As you said, that makes it authentic.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Matthew,
Thank you for sharing with us your process. That is assessment! You continually work to improve the assessment tool and the parts around it including the way it is evaluated. we always strive to improve.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
Matthew,
Thank you for sharing your use of authentic assessment. You really can use it in both f2f and online courses. It allows you to showcase skill in context. It does help with accreditation. You stated your purpose for using authentic assessment so succinctly.
Dr. Kelly Wilkinson
