What is one way to make an assessment more authentic?

Making an assessment more authentic involves aligning it closely with real-world applications and contexts that students are likely to encounter outside of the classroom. By including real-world tasks and scenarios, the assessment evaluates not only students' knowledge but also their ability to apply that knowledge in practical situations. This approach fosters higher-order thinking skills and encourages students to engage with the material in a meaningful way, demonstrating their understanding by solving problems or completing tasks that resemble what they would face in everyday life. It also enhances student motivation, as they can see the relevance of their learning to real-life situations.

In contrast, using only multiple-choice questions tends to assess rote memorization or recognition rather than the ability to apply knowledge. An assessment that ensures a short duration, such as taking less than 10 minutes, may not allow for the depth needed to evaluate understanding authentically. Finally, basing assessment on memorization does not promote critical thinking or the application of skills in real-world scenarios, which is essential for authentic assessments. Therefore, incorporating real-world tasks and scenarios is the most effective way to make assessments authentic.