Authentic Assessment

This book is an excellent primer for those just beginning to explore performance/authentic assessment. The book consists of 10 chapters: a summary of the imperfections of standardized testing; a discussion of the definition, benefit and intent of authentic assessment; an explanation of how to use observation in measuring student progress; portfolios; a in-depth examination of different types of performance assessment; opening the assessment process to students and their families; a discussion of scoring and grading performace and authentic assessment; a brief guide to implementation; an authentic assessment FAQ; and a relatively thorough bibliography and glossary. Overall, the book provides a good introduction to authentic assessment and its purposes in relatively simple language. However, most examples are drawn from elementary and middle school level, and the guidelines for implementing authentic assessment, while possibly appropriate to grades K-8, do not account for the particular difficulties of implementing authentic assessment at the high school level. For those interested in a more technical discussion of authentic assessment, consider Allan Glatthorn's "Performance Assessment and Standards-Based Curricula." Those interested in more thorough discussion of the practice and implementation of authentic assessment, consider just about anything by Grant Wiggins.