Authentic Assessment in Competency-Based Courses
Authentic assessment asks students to demonstrate real-world
application of their learning rather than simply recall information. In
competency-based education at Kirkwood, authentic assessments are valuable
because they directly measure whether students can actually do what the course
prepares them for.
What is Authentic Assessment?
Authentic assessments mirror the tasks and challenges students
will eventually see in actual work settings. Instead of a multiple-choice test,
students complete real-world tasks. The assessment itself has real-world value
and resembles what graduates will actually do in their careers or lives.
Start Small
Begin by identifying one or two competencies in your course
where authentic assessment would make the most sense. Look for skills that are practical
or where employers have expressed specific needs. In a healthcare program, this
might be taking vital signs. For a business course, it could be creating a
budget or writing a professional email.
Ask yourself what someone would actually do with this skill
outside the classroom. The real-world task becomes the foundation of your
assessment, and students are graded on how they perform the competency. Authentic
assessment takes the place of multiple-choice exams, essays, and other
traditional assessments.
What Do Assessments Look Like?
Create a scenario or task that feels authentic but remains
manageable within your course constraints. You don't need elaborate simulations
to start. A nursing student can demonstrate patient communication with a
classmate playing the patient role. A graphic design student can create
materials for a real, local nonprofit. An accounting student can reconcile bank
statements.
Develop a clear rubric that describes what competent
performance looks like. In competency-based education, students need to know
exactly what "meeting the competency" means. Your rubric should focus
on the skills and knowledge that matter in real practice, not just compliance
with assignment instructions.
Implementing Authentic Assessment
Provide students with models of successful work when
possible. Show them what competent performance looks like before they attempt
the assessment. Many students benefit from explicit examples.
Build in opportunities for revision. In competency-based
education, the goal is mastery. If a student's first attempt doesn't meet the
competency, they should have a clear path to improve and resubmit.
Start with assessments that you can reasonably grade. One
authentic assessment that you can provide quality feedback on is better than
three that overwhelm you. As you become comfortable, you can expand.
Challenges and Solutions
Authentic assessments require more complex thinking than
traditional tests. Frame the assessment by connecting it explicitly to student
goals, whether that's job readiness, transfer preparation, or personal growth.
Grading can take longer initially. Well-designed rubrics
will help you stay on track when grading and will speed up grading and make
your expectations transparent to students.
Some competencies seem hard to assess authentically. You can
get creative by having students video record performances, provide written
reflections to demonstrate critical thinking, and create digital portfolios to showcase
skill development.
Keep Going!
After trying one or two authentic assessments, reflect on
what worked and where you may need to make some refinements. Take your time to
create meaningful authentic assessments instead of replacing all your current,
more traditional, assessments at once. Over time, you will add more and more
authentic assessment to your course. Authentic assessment serves your students
best when it genuinely prepares them for what comes next, whether that's a job
or further education.