These tests are typically a standardized
test that is administered locally or
statewide, but may also be
teacher-created. When viewing the
making and application of a traditional
assessment, the knowledge that needs
to be gained is determined then the
assessments are created with the
expected knowledge in mind
(curriculum drives instruction).
Traditional Assessments (TA) are
assessments with measures of forced
choice. These assessments may include
true/false questions, fill-in-the-blank
sentences, matching, multiple-choice
questions, and questions types similar to
these. On these types of assessments,
students are asked to recall information
they have learned to complete the
assessment.
Authentic Assessments
Authentic Assessments (AA) are
assessments in which students are asked
to meaningfully apply knowledge and
skills to real-world tasks. These types of
assessments can vary in appearance as
teachers are looking for the application
of knowledge in tasks, not questions.
These assessments can be presented in a
wide variety of forms. In these types of
tests, students are completing tasks.
Authentic assessments are created to
assess students "doing" a concept that they
have learned. In applying these types of
assessments, teachers are looking for
students to summarize and apply the
knowledge and skills they have learned to a
task. In opposing practices of TAs, AAs are
designed with the assessed task in mind
(assessment drives curriculum).
Similarities of Traditional and Authentic Assessments
Traditional assessments and
authentic assessments are both
built on the ideas of producing
and developing productive
citizens. Both types of
assessments are made to assess
a student's knowledge of a
particular concept.
In applying both TAs and AAs, teachers in
schools are assess that student are
gathering the knowledge they need to
survive and succeed in the "real world."
Differences of Traditional and Authentic Assessments
While both TAs and AAs are
made in hopes of determining
students' understanding of
skills and concepts, the two
assessments types are very
different. One of the main
differences between
traditional and authentic
assessments is the way the
tests are presented.
Traditional assessments
typically ask students to recall
information or select an
answer. On the other hand,
authentic assessments ask
that students show the
knowledge they have gained
through real-word tasks.
Traditional Assessments vs.
Authentic Assessments: selecting a
response vs. performing a task;
contrived vs. real-life;
recall/recognition vs.
constructing/application;
teacher-structured vs.
student-structured; indirect
evidence vs. direct evidence.
How do I choose what to use?
When deciding what type of
assessment to use, teachers
need to know what skills
and/or knowledge need to be
assessed. Teachers should
keep the following statements
in mind when possibly
choosing authentic
assessments: AAs are direct
measures of learning; AAs
construct meaning and
learning; AAs integrate
learning and teaching with
assessments; AAs provide
teachers and students with
multiple ways to demonstrate
learning.
Teachers are not required to
choose between traditional and
authentic assessments. Teachers
have the ability to use multiple and
varied forms of assessments. When
teachers use a variety of
assessments, they are able to see
what students have learned
through different ways and
different perspectives.
Using Authentic (Informal) Assessments for Emergent Bilinguals
Teachers have the ability
to follow the progress of
their students by using
authentic, informal
assessments, By using
these assessments,
teachers can modify their
instruction to meet the
needs of the students.
When testing Emergent
Bilinguals (EBs), standardized
tests often do not show the
knowledge that EBs
possess.Authentic
assessments, also known as
performance-based
assessments, more accurately
assess EBs knowledge. EBs,
during authentic assessments,
are able to SHOW their
knowledge rather than WRITE
their knowledge.