Description: In life, we are not asked to
show our competency by selecting an
answer from a multiple choice test.
Instead, we are asked to show what we
know. Authentic assessment allows our
students to have the chance to do just
that.
Application: I was asked to teach a lesson
during part of my interview to become an
elementary teacher. Whatever job an ESL
student has in the future, it is extremely
important for them to be able to perform
the task at hand.
Reveals Strengths of EB Students
Description: Because EL students are able to
create an item to show their understanding of a
topic, the students are able to show their
strengths. Traditional assessments highlight
students who are good test takers. Authentic
assessments allow EL students to take
ownership of their learning and create a
product showing what they have learned.
Teachers can then see what areas in which
their EL students have strengths.
Application: Instead of taking a traditional assessment on our
Native American unit, students could instead do a form of
authentic assessment. This may include a choice board with
several options as to what the students can do, but also gives
them a chance to show what they have learned instead of taking
a traditional test. For example, students could create a poster
showing what they have learned about the tribes we discussed.
They could also act out a play. Some students may want to write
a story showing the different aspects of the tribes. There are
various ways to show what we have learned about Native
Americans.
Performance-Based Assessment
Description: These assessments come from classroom
instruction and everyday tasks. A teacher can use these
to assess an ELLs' language proficiency and academic
growth. This can be done through oral reports,
presentations, demonstrations, and various other
methods.
Application: Performance-based
assessments can include reading
with partners, retelling stories,
role playing, giving an oral report,
using sequencing skills in telling
a story, brainstorming, and
several other things. The
possibilities are endless.
Portfolio Assessment
Description: This is a place to collect student work throughout
the year to show growth and progress. They include
information, sample work, and evaluations of student
performance.
Application: A teacher can include a student's
writing, drawings, tapes of oral work,
checklists, and rating sheets. I have used
portfolio based assessment on one of my
students. This showed her progress
throughout the year, and allowed myself and
the department that she was included in to
monitor her academic success.
Integrates Teaching,
Learning, and Assessment
Description: Students are learning about a topic
while the teacher facilitates. Then, the students'
work throughout their learning turns into an end
product used for assessment.
Application: I recently taught a lesson on
magnetism. Instead of doing worksheets, I
wanted my students to be involved inter
own learning. They created their own
experiment in order to test metals
magnets are attracted to, and then
conducted their experiments. While they
were conducting experiments, I was
working with the individual groups,
facilitating their learning. In the end, they
were able to create a presentation about
magnetism and show their learning in a
unique way.
How to Create Authentic Assessment
Description: There are 4 steps to creating authentic
assessments: First, identify the standards. Next,
select an authentic task. Then, identify the criteria
for the task. Finally, create the rubric for the task.
Application: When I wanted my students to know about
magnetism, the first thing I did was look at my standard to
know what they were required to know. After that, I was
able to create a task for them to complete by testing
different metals to check for magnetism. We spoke about
why certain metals did not stick, and made connections
between the metals that were attracted and the metals
that were not attracted. After I knew what they needed to
do, I was able to come up with an idea as to what their end
product would look like. This meant I was able to make a
rubric looking for all aspects of the standards.