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My affinity for authentic teaching comes from my belief in using real-world contexts within a classroom so that instruction is meaningful and engaging for students. Lessons are taught that are based on what happens in real-life and students are given opportunities to work on solving real problems and creating products that can serve a purpose in reality. That has been my understanding of authentic teaching and those things are what make me believe in it and gravitate towards it.
Now I will add authentic assessment to my framework of teaching. Although in theory the elements of this approach have been ones that I've believed in the entire time. Now I have another name for them. It feels good to know more precisely what educators consider to be authentic assessment- which is assessments that are based on real-life contexts that either involve or emulate conditions that exist in the real-world. Furthermore, students create evidence and demonstrations of their learning, which is a far more descriptive and sophisticated means of expression. Their means for demonstrating what they can do and understand is not limited to traditional assessment methods that rely on having students fill in information to indicate a response. Rather, they produce something that directly shows what they are capable of.
Technology, and Web 2.0 tools in particular, is fabulous for providing tools and resources for students to express what they can do and know. Here is a context wherein technology is a very useful tool for enabling student expression and assessment. One tool in particular that seems helpful for this use is an e-portfolio. Many Web 2.0 tools can be used to create and maintain this kind of electronic, or digital, portfolio.
One question I am left pondering is: What is at the cutting-edge of authentic assessment research and theory?
Tara,
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more. At MSMC, we have learned that the best way for students to learn is to make the knowledge relevant to their lives. Authentic assessment takes that one step further and has the students demonstrate what they know in ways that are meaningful to their lives. I feel that authentic assessment completes the process of authentic teaching. I can see how devoted you are to this topic by the title of your website.
Tara,
ReplyDeleteI agree completely. As learners, it seems that we are subliminally aware that what we know beyond basic skills is a result of having experienced it in our real lives. It seems natural, as educators, to extend this awareness to our teaching. I believe we do need to be intentional about providing authentic experiences, especially as state testing pulls the focus in the classroom toward piecemeal knowledge.
As you mentioned, using e-folios in the classroom help to maintain the focus on real-life learning as well as giving the student yearlong ownership of their learning. Very powerful.