Authentic performance assessments are to demonstrate what learners have acquired in class instead of testing their abilities through traditional quizzes and tests. The tool is powerful in education today because it best evaluates a student’s knowledge of a subject matter. Authentic assessments measure performance in a relevant and direct way to establish if the learning objectives have been achieved (Sokhanvar, Salehi, & Sokhanvar, 2021). Educators use interviews, videos, reports, journals, and speeches to evaluate students’ understanding of concepts. Through these projects, they can analyze what they have been taught and apply it to their experiences or real-life situations.
The power of authentic assessments also lies in how students do not have to memorize concepts for an examination; they employ their creativity to demonstrate what they have learned over time. For adult students who combine speaking and writing, this technique helps refine their oral and writing presentation skills. Additionally, performance assessments are potent for groups because learners collaborate with others on peer projects. Generally, the power of authentic evaluations lies in how they allow individuals to demonstrate their capabilities without the pressure of having to do well in traditional tests. Therefore, they prevent learners who suffer from test anxiety from underperforming.
One of the challenges educators face in the standards-based arena is assessing whether learners have mastered the content or have only memorized the concepts. Authentic assessments promote mastery by ensuring students have effectively applied the skills and knowledge learned in their fields of study (Sokhanvar, et al., 2021). Transferring knowledge to real-life situations demands judgment to know the facts that should be relevant and how they should be incorporated in various environments. Therefore, performance assessments reflect learning through a learner’s ability to simulate or replicate contexts in which their knowledge is tested in the workplace or personal lives. Additionally, the technique assesses one’s capability to effectively and efficiently use knowledge and skills repertoire to negotiate complex problems. The learning method allows students to obtain feedback, consult, practice, rehearse, and refine their performances, thus reflecting on their learning and mastery without undermining the standards-based approach.
Reference
Sokhanvar, Z., Salehi, K., & Sokhanvar, F. (2021). Advantages of authentic assessment for improving the learning experience and employability skills of higher education students: A systematic literature review. Studies in Educational Evaluation, 70, 101030. Web.