In today's digital age, the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT has transformed how students approach their studies. While these technologies offer numerous benefits, they also pose challenges for academic integrity. One effective way to address these challenges is through authentic assessment. Authentic assessments not only evaluate student learning but also engage and improve their skills and understanding of course content by requiring real-world application.
a strong journaling component into every assignment, students can reflect on how the ideas they are studying connect to their own lives
The #1 way to connect your students to the material they may be writing with the help of GenAI is to encourage them to recount personal stories that relate to the information they have learned. By integrating a strong journaling component into every assignment, students can reflect on how the ideas they are studying connect to their own lives and aspirations. This approach not only helps students internalize and relate to the material on a deeper level but also allows educators to get to know their students better. Through personal storytelling, students can explore their future goals and see the relevance of their learning in shaping their paths, fostering a more meaningful and engaged learning experience.
Understanding Authentic Assessment
An authentic assignment requires students to apply what they have learned to new situations, demanding judgment to determine relevant information and skills. These assignments often focus on complex, real-world scenarios and may involve a real-world audience of stakeholders or clients. According to Grant Wiggins (1998), an assignment is considered authentic if it:
- Is realistic.
- Requires judgment and innovation.
- Asks the student to "do" the subject.
- Replicates or simulates workplace, civic, or personal life contexts.
- Assesses the ability to efficiently and effectively use a repertoire of knowledge and skills.
- Provides opportunities to rehearse, practice, consult resources, and refine performances and products.
Comparing Conventional Tests and Authentic Assessments
Authentic assessments differ significantly from conventional test questions, which often indirectly measure a student's ability to apply knowledge and skills. While traditional tests have their place in education, they cannot replace the depth and real-world relevance of authentic assessments. The table below, adapted from Wiggins, highlights the differences:
Benefits of Authentic Assessments
Authentic assessments offer several advantages over conventional tests:
- Validity: They are more valid for assessing higher-order thinking skills and real-world application.
- Engagement: Real-world tasks are more interesting and motivating for students.
- Specific Feedback: They provide detailed information about student learning, highlighting both strengths and areas for improvement.
However, developing authentic assessments requires more time and effort from instructors, and grading can be more challenging. To address this, creating a detailed grading rubric that outlines the traits to be evaluated and the criteria for judgment can be highly effective.
Examples of Authentic Assessments
Nursing
Case Study and Care Plan Development
- Description: Provide students with a detailed case study of a patient, including medical history, current symptoms, lab results, and other relevant data. Students must assess the patient's condition, identify potential issues, and create a comprehensive care plan.
- Components:Assessment: Analyzing patient data to determine the primary health concerns.Diagnosis: Formulating nursing diagnoses based on the assessment.Planning: Developing a plan of care with specific, measurable, and time-bound goals.Implementation: Describing the interventions that will be used to achieve the goals.Evaluation: Outlining how the effectiveness of the care plan will be measured and adjusted as needed.
- Skills Developed: Critical thinking, clinical reasoning, patient assessment, and care planning.
Business
Business/Marketing/Sales Plan Development
- Description: Students develop a comprehensive business, marketing, or sales plan for an imaginary or real company within their area of interest. This project involves market research, strategy formulation, and financial planning.
- Components:Market Analysis: Researching the market, identifying target audiences, and analyzing competitors.Business Strategy: Defining the business model, value proposition, and strategic goals.Marketing Plan: Creating marketing strategies, including product development, pricing, promotion, and distribution.Financial Projections: Developing financial forecasts, including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements.Implementation Plan: Outlining the steps for executing the business plan and measuring success.
- Skills Developed: Strategic thinking, market analysis, financial literacy, and project management.
Computer Science
Code Troubleshooting and Application Development
- Description: Assign students the task of troubleshooting a piece of problematic code or developing a website/app to solve a specific problem or meet set criteria.
- Components:Problem Identification: Diagnosing issues within the code and identifying potential bugs or inefficiencies.Debugging: Applying debugging techniques to fix the problems and optimize the code.Development: Designing and developing a website or app that meets specified requirements, such as user interface design, functionality, and performance.Testing: Conducting tests to ensure the solution works as intended and meets all criteria.Documentation: Creating detailed documentation for the code or application, including user manuals and technical specifications.
- Skills Developed: Problem-solving, coding proficiency, software development, and technical documentation.
Psychology
Case Study Examination and Critique
- Description: Students examine and critique a case study from multiple theoretical perspectives, such as cognitive, behavioral, psychodynamic, and humanistic approaches.
- Components:Case Analysis: Summarizing the case study and identifying key psychological issues.Theoretical Application: Applying different psychological theories to understand and explain the behaviors and mental processes observed in the case study.Critical Evaluation: Comparing and contrasting the theoretical perspectives, evaluating their strengths and limitations.Intervention Strategies: Proposing intervention strategies based on the different theoretical approaches.Reflection: Reflecting on the insights gained from analyzing the case from multiple perspectives.
- Skills Developed: Critical thinking, theoretical application, comparative analysis, and intervention planning.
Public Affairs or Service Learning Courses
Community Impact Analysis
- Description: Students analyze how a community agency might be impacted by a particular challenge, such as budget cuts, infrastructure outages, or public health crises.
- Components:Context Analysis: Understanding the community agency's mission, services, and stakeholders.Challenge Assessment: Identifying and describing the specific challenge and its potential impacts on the agency.Impact Analysis: Analyzing the short-term and long-term effects of the challenge on the agency's operations, services, and stakeholders.Solution Development: Proposing strategies to mitigate the negative impacts and enhance the agency's resilience.Stakeholder Engagement: Identifying key stakeholders and developing a plan for engaging them in the solution process.
- Skills Developed: Analytical thinking, problem-solving, strategic planning, and community engagement.
Biology/Chemistry
Process Diagram and Analysis
- Description: Students draw a detailed diagram of a biological or chemical process, indicating what happens if a specific variable changes.
- Components:Process Description: Describing the biological or chemical process, including all key steps and components.Diagram Creation: Drawing a detailed and accurate diagram of the process.Variable Analysis: Identifying a key variable that can affect the process and explaining its role.Impact Assessment: Analyzing how changes in the variable impact the overall process and the outcomes.Hypothesis Development: Formulating hypotheses based on the potential changes and their implications.
- Skills Developed: Analytical thinking, scientific reasoning, hypothesis formulation, and diagrammatic representation.
History
Role-Play and Historical Analysis
- Description: Students engage in a role-play of a particular historical event or describe what might have happened if one element of a historical event had changed.
- Components:Historical Research: Researching the historical event, including the context, key figures, and outcomes.Role-Play Preparation: Developing character profiles and understanding the perspectives of different stakeholders involved in the event.Role-Play Execution: Performing the role-play, emphasizing the historical context and key decisions made by the characters.Alternate History Analysis: Describing a hypothetical scenario where a key element of the event had changed, analyzing the potential impacts on history.Reflection: Reflecting on the insights gained from the role-play and the alternate history analysis.
- Skills Developed: Historical research, critical thinking, perspective-taking, and creative analysis.
By incorporating these authentic assessments into their courses, educators can provide students with meaningful and engaging learning experiences that not only assess their knowledge and skills but also prepare them for real-world challenges.
Conclusion
Authentic assessment is a powerful tool for managing the use of AI in education. By focusing on real-world application, judgment, and innovation, these assessments provide a more accurate measure of student learning and prepare students for real-life challenges. While they require more effort to develop and grade, the benefits for student engagement, motivation, and learning make them an invaluable component of modern education. Embracing authentic assessments can help educators harness the potential of AI while maintaining academic integrity and fostering meaningful learning experiences.
