Implementing authentic assessment into a course often requires more time, resources, and planning than traditional assessment methods, especially if technology is lacking. However, there are ways for educators to leverage assignments to gain additional insight into what their students understand. Incorporating these three phrases into different activities can help instructors assess their students’ comprehension level more authentically.

Show Me What You Know

Forms of authentic assessment typically require students to demonstrate their knowledge or skills through some kind of activity. Whether that’s an oral presentation, a video submission, or an experiment, the idea is for students to articulate what they understand in a more realistic and revealing way. Essays, tests, and other types of traditional assessment give some indication of what a student comprehends, but authentic assessments put more emphasis on the thought process as opposed to just the final grade.

Explain Why

This phrase supports the notion that authentic assessments are about more than the end result. The correct answer matters, but how students reach their conclusion is just as important. By making students explain the “why” behind their answer, instructors gain much more insight into an individual’s comprehension level. On multiple choice tests, true or false questions, and other forms of traditional assessment, an educated guess often covers up what might be an incomplete understanding of a subject.

Apply This Concept

Perhaps the best way to gauge whether or not students understand a concept is to make them apply it to a complex task or problem. This process shows an instructor two things: students have a deep understanding of the subject matter, and they possess the critical thinking skills necessary to transfer knowledge across different contexts. Most professionals don’t show their proficiency by choosing from four choices on a bubble sheet — they prove their value by completing tasks and solving problems. If higher ed institutions aim to prepare students for future careers, it only makes sense for learners to practice doing the same.

Bongo enables instructors to put these three phrases into practice by offering asynchronous Video Assignments. These structured video workflows might ask students to show what they know, explain the why, and apply academic concepts within simulated situations. To learn more about how Bongo facilitates authentic assessment, visit our website.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]