Authentic Assessment in Action

Within today’s digital world, students intuitively acquire vast amounts of information at the touch of a screen or the tap of a keyboard. Learners in the information age long for more than activities that simply encourage the accumulation of additional knowledge. In fact, students come to class intuitively knowing how to gain a variety of information. Educational opportunities that transition students from consumers of information to creators of new learning experiences indelibly impact them in ways that transfer beyond the walls of the classroom.

Today’s learners naturally and consistently consume, create, and publish content on their own time. Educators within the digital age leverage this creative potential when they allow and even encourage students to tap into their propensity for innovation in class. In an age in which far too few students understand how to effectively apply digital literacy or safety as they explore and generate content, today’s educators hold the potential for far-reaching impact. Educators must learn to harness the enthusiasm students have for content creation (and particularly digital content creation) into everyday assessment opportunities. In doing so, they position themselves to enhance student engagement, motivation, and achievement in academic contexts.

Authentic Assessment in Action: An Everyday Guide for Bringing Learning to Life
through Meaningful Assessment is designed to empower educators to provide highly impactful, consistently engaging, and unquestionably applicable learning opportunities for students.

Katie Alaniz, EdD, is director of the Center for Learning Innovations and Teaching Excellence (C-LITE) and a faculty member within the College of Education Behavioral Sciences at Houston Baptist University. As a teacher and digital learning specialist for over a decade in both public and private schools, including her service at River Oaks Baptist School, Dr. Alaniz guides fellow educators as they meaningfully integrate digital tools and resources within their classrooms.

Kristie Cerling, EdD, is Dean for the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Houston Baptist University. Dr. Cerling has over 25 years of experience as a teacher, administrator, and leader in public and private schools. She has special interest in teaching strategies, mentoring new teachers and leaders, and Holocaust education.