Authentic Assessment

There are a lot of different definitions of authentic assessment, depending on the subject area and the grade level. In my high school math classroom, I consider an authentic assessment to be something that relates the curriculum to the real world. For authentic assessments, I usually like to use a performance task. In these performance tasks, they start easy, with vocabulary questions and basic questions on the material. Then, then task becomes more and more complex, including problems that extend the student's thinking. Therefore, I am able to better assess exactly where each student stands with the material. 
One of my favorite authentic assessments for Integrated Math II is for the Right Triangle Trigonometry unit. After we have covered all the material, I give them a performance task that involves them going out onto campus and finding the heights of several campus landmarks using trigonometry. It starts with them creating a homemade clinometer (which measures incline through an eyepiece) and ends with the students calculating the height of things like the flagpole by measuring the angle and their distance from the flagpole. Along the way they sketch their triangles and work out the math. It is a great assessment because I can better determine how well the students are comprehending the material and they get to see a real world application of the material.

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