What makes assessment authentic and why does it matter? The research around assessment shows that students have improved learning outcomes when they are assessed on activities that are relevant, timely, transferable and involve real world application. Students thrive given agency and ownership when they are allowed to choose how they will demonstrate their learning. But creating authentic assessment requires time and energy to reimagine. This seminar series will explore the principles of authentic assessment and the characteristics of assessment design and how they promote academic integrity.

If you are searching for some new approaches to traditional assessment, explore the benefits and challenges of authentic assessment in this three-part podcast series.

What do I have to do to get an A? Alternative Grading for Authentic Assessment

Traditional grading often fails to capture the full spectrum of student abilities and hinders genuine learning experiences. Our podcast will highlight the flaws of this approach, including grade inflation and student anxiety, and explain why change is overdue. We’ll present three alternatives—Reflection, Ungrading, and Contract Grading—that promise to foster more meaningful student engagement and assessment.

Alternative grading strategies can lead to more authentic assessments, enabling educators to gauge not just what students know but how they apply knowledge in real-world scenarios.

Creative Alternatives to Tests and Essays

Assessment is a central element in teaching and learning. It allows the students to demonstrate their understanding and mastery of the knowledge and skills. Authentic assessment requires students to perform or create a meaningful product using real-life simulations.

Our podcast will highlight:

• the benefits of authentic assessment.
• types of authentic assessment.
• examples and templates for assignments. 
• how to scale these methods to larger classes.
• considerations for grading.

Flexibility & Rigor - How to Make Rigorous Assessments Equitable

This session will delve into the concept of educational rigor, specifically focusing on crafting rigorous assessments with a focus on equity. Participants will explore what it means for an assessment to have rigor. The session will also highlight how a conventional perspective on rigorous assessment can inadvertently exacerbate the pre-existing challenges faced by certain student groups. To close the session, participants will be introduced to various assessment types and strategies aimed at challenging students academically, while also promoting equity and inclusion.

Our podcast will:

• clearly define what educational rigor is, and what it is not.
• provide examples of rigorous assessments.
• reflect on the ways inflexible policies can exclude certain student groups.
• explain the ways in which authentic assessment can foster both academic rigor and inclusivity.
  
  

If you would like to speak to an instructional consultant, you can request a consultation here. To speak with any other Technology Services group, you can reach them by emailing LSATechnologyServices@umich.edu