The Authentic Assessment Toolbox: Enhancing Student Learning through Online Faculty Development

Abstract

To support learning about assessment for all educators, I wrote, created and published online the Authentic Assessment Toolbox, a how-to text on creating authentic tasks, rubrics and standards for measuring and improving student learning. The site can assist faculty development by exposing educators to the process and rationale for an alternative (authentic) model of assessment in which students are asked to perform real-world tasks which demonstrate meaningful application of essential knowledge and skills, and by describing and providing examples of how to construct such authentic assessments. Additionally, the Toolbox can benefit student learning by suggesting methods for promoting student engagement in substantial learning that connects to real-world applications students will recognize and value, and by describing tools (e.g., rubrics) that students can apply to their own work to gauge progress and achievement.