Visit CEEP’s projects:
- Illinois Early Learning (IEL): source of evidence-based, reliable information on early care and education for parents, caregivers, and teachers of young children in Illinois.
- Early Childhood Research & Practice (ECRP): was the first scholarly, peer-reviewed, bilingual (English-Spanish) online journal in the field of early childhood education.
- Illinois Early Childhood Asset Map (IECAM): a source for data on early care and education services and demographics in the state of Illinois. Data are available by state, county, township, legislative district, and several agency regions.
- Illinois Parents: operated with the Academic Development Institute in Lincoln, Illinois, provides resources and information for parents in the state of Illinois.
ED328611 TM016142
Title: The Case for Authentic Assessment. ERIC Digest.
Author(s): Wiggins, Grant
Author Affiliation: ERIC Clearinghouse on Tests, Measurement, and Evaluation, Washington, DC.(BBB26432); American Institutes for Research, Washington, DC. (BBB26433)
Pages: 4
Publication Date: December 1990
Sponsoring Agency: Office of Educational Research and Improvement (ED), Washington, DC. (EDD00036)
Contract No: RI88062003
Report No: EDO-TM-90-10
Available from: EDRS Price MF01/PC01 Plus Postage.
Language: English
Document Type: ERIC product (071); ERIC digests in full text (073)
Geographic Source: U.S.; District of Columbia
Journal Announcement: RIEJUN1991
Based on material
prepared for the California Assessment Program, an argument in favor
of authentic assessment is presented, and authentic assessment is
contrasted with traditional standardized tests. An assessment is
authentic when student performance on intellectual tasks is directly
examined. Comparatively, traditional assessment relies on indirect
or proxy items. Issues addressed include cost, effort and time requirements,
and public suspicions regarding the objectivity of authentic assessment.
It is contended that a move toward more authentic tasks and outcomes
improves teaching and learning. In authentic assessments, students
have greater clarity about their obligations and are asked to master
more engaging tasks, and teachers can see assessment results as
meaningful and useful for improving instruction. Conventional testing
is probably adequate if the aim is to monitor performance. However,
tests must be composed of exemplary tasks, criteria, and standards
if the goal is to improve performance across the board. A five-item
list of additional reading materials is included. (TJH)
Descriptors: Comparative Testing; Cost Effectiveness; *Educational
Assessment; Elementary Secondary Education; Nontraditional Education;
Public Opinion; Standardized Tests; *Test Use; Test ValidityIdentifiers:
*Authentic Assessment; California Assessment Program; *Direct Assessment;
ERIC Digests; Indirect Assessment
