The document discusses alternatives to traditional standardized testing that have become necessary due to the pandemic. It summarizes the definition of authentic assessments provided by experts Grant Wiggins and Paul Anderson and Deandra Little. Authentic assessments require students to perform real-world tasks and solve meaningful problems. The document provides examples of how traditional exams and papers could be converted to authentic assessments using tools like open-book projects, portfolios, recordings, and online proctoring. It acknowledges the challenge of managing resistance to change from institutions but provides tips for convincing leadership and training educators on new assessment models.

1. Richard Powers
Project Manager, Blended Learning Courses for Diversity & Inclusion
Professional School of Education Stuttgart-Ludwigsburg
richard.powers@ilw.uni-stuttgart.de @rpowers100
November 3, 2020“Exploring New Avenues to Online Assessment”

2. Standardized Testing: SATs and ACTs
Pandemic
No Digital Testing Need Something Else
Celebrity Cheating Scandal
Paying Test-Takers Public Outrage
Movement Already Gathering Momentum
Inclusion Qualifications

3. Not Safe During a Pandemic

4. Not Only Standardized Tests are Broken Now

5. How Relevant Was Traditional Testing Anyway?

6. One Solution: Authentic Assessments

7. Necessity Leads to Authentic Assessments

8. Authentic Assessments
Grant Wiggins:
• “Assessment that poses intellectually interesting and
personally meaningful questions, tasks or problems that have
value and interest beyond the classroom.”
Paul Anderson and Deandra Little, Elon University:
• "Authentic assignments ask students to perform the intellectual
work—at an apprentice level—that people in your field perform. They
place students in a real or realistic situation where the students must
use the knowledge or skills they are learning in your course to help
someone else (not you),“

9. A7, B4, B6, C1, C4, D3, D4

10. Objective
Traditional
Assessment
Authentic Learning
Activities with
Feedback
Basic Steps: Backward Design

11. Open-Book
Projects
Collaborative
Projects
Art Projects
Examples
Portfolios &
Reflections
Recordings
Real-World
Submissions

12. Essay/course paper to abstract & paper submission
as call for paper in the field
Handwritten final exam to series of short essays
over the term with formative feedback along the
way
Same programming final exam to randomized parts
of a programming project needed by the institution
Academic paper to image/photograph and
reflection
Final paper to collaborative peer-reviewed
experience
Source: Coimbra Group, (2018) “Current Trends in Assessment in Europe:
The Way Forward”

13. Final examination to teams of 2/groups creating
and modifying a Wikipedia entry over the term,
reflecting on process
Final examination to Youtube presentation with
correct captions
Final examination to webtool projects/poster
sessions: Wakelet, Padlet, BookCreator, Canva
Course papers to learning journals, reflections, self-
assessments
, Online Proctoring Tools: Respondus,
PearsonOnVue, ProctorExam, TeSLA
Source: Coimbra Group, (2018) “Current Trends in Assessment in Europe:
The Way Forward”

14. Photo & Workplace Identification
Source: home.pearsonvue.com

15. Dual-View Proctoring
Source: proctorexam.com

16. University Revolution from Final Exam & Paper to Blended Learning
(Sync/Async) With Continual Assessments
Image source: Coimbra Group, (2018) “Current Trends in Assessment in Europe:
The Way Forward”

17. Competency-Based Tools in LMSs for Non-Point Evaluations
Brightspace Term Common Terms at Institutions
Competency competency, proficiency, skill, ability, knowledge,
learning outcome, standard, assessment
Learning Objectives learning outcomes, SLOs, objectives, knowledge,
learning, indicators, criteria, requirements
Activities assessments, quizzes, essays, homework
assignments, discussion posts, graded work,
presentations, rubrics

18. Managing Resistance at the Institution Level
• Know Your Audience
• Do Your Homework (studies, videos, presentations)
• Convince Leadership
• Publicize & Market/Department Websites/Tips & Best Practices
w/Examples
• Train Educators, Teaching Assistants, Tutors, Instructional Designers
• Put in Course Recruiting Documents (Teasers, Syllabi, Term
Schedules)
• Ongoing Process

19. richard.powers@ilw.uni-stuttgart.de
@rpowers100
November 10: ”Global Citizenship Courses for the 21st Century”: UNESCO’s
Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Education and Peace for Sustainable
Development & Professional School of Education Stuttgart Ludwigsburg