103. Authentic Assessments: How to Assess Students in a Way That Actually Matters

If you ask any student what they didn’t like about school, I bet assessments would be toward the top of their list. But what if you could create assessments that students actually enjoyed and liked? Okay, well, maybe that’s going too far, but you can definitely create assessments that are the best representation of their knowledge. I call those authentic assessments. In today’s episode, I’m going to share why I incorporate non-traditional assessments and four practical tips on how to implement them in your own classroom.  Authentic assessments might be a new term, so I help break down what I mean and how it directly impacts students in a positive way. Additionally, I give reasons why authentic assessments should be used, especially in relation to expressing what students know in a way that’s more than multiple choice and memorization. Likewise, when it comes to implementation, keeping the whole child in mind, along with their qualities, is why they’re at the forefront of my mind.  With midterm exams, semester exams on the horizon, and other exams in your class, now seemed like a good time to discuss assessments. And while traditional assessments are necessary at times, I encourage you to think outside the box and give your students the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge through authentic assessments. Stay tuned to next week’s episode for more on this topic as we continue our mini-series on summative assessments! Resources Mentioned: Biology Midterm and Final Exam Review and Test PackPhysical Science Midterm and Final Exam Review and Test PackAnatomy Midterm and Final Exam Review and Test PackEpisode 94, How to Deal with Cheating in Your High School Science ClassesEpisode 87, Aligning Your Assessments: Curriculum Design Part 5Episode 51, 5 Alternatives to Traditional Midterm ExamsDownload your FREE Classroom Reset ChallengeSend me a DM on Instagram: @its.not.rocket.scienceSend me an email: [email protected], rate, and review on Apple Podcasts Show Notes: https://itsnotrocketscienceclassroom.com/episode103