How is traditional assessment different to authentic assessment?
Traditional Assessment
Traditional Assessment does have an importance when conducting tests which as NAPLAN, spelling tests and maths facts. However it is not necessary the most effective way to teach and assess.
Traditional Assessment:
-"requires students to provide single correct answers", therefore students can only be assessed on content knowledge or correct guesses.
-"promotes a view of the curriculum as the narrow, often superficial coverage of content", this can create an uninteresting classroom environment which can cause students to switch off and produce little or no learning and work.
-"provides little meaningful diagnostic information" on how students can use skills, knowledge, creativity and higher order thinking to complete tasks (Brady, 2012. p. 44).
Examples of Traditional Assessment Strategies
-multiple-choice tests
-true or false tests
-matching tests
-short answer tests
-cloze tests
-interpretive tests
-standardised tests
-tests set up as traditional testing (silent room, desks separated, eyes on own work, no borrowing, no speaking, hands up if you have a question, no preparation for test, time limit given) (Brady, 2012. p.46).
The clear difference between traditional or typical testing and authentic testing is that typical testing "must be unknown in advance to ensure validity". Students are assessed and marked on how many correct answers they have or have guessed right. Whereas authentic testing "is known as much as possible in advance". Students are assessed on quality of response through predictable skills and contexts (Wiggins, 1998).
Traditional Assessment does have an importance when conducting tests which as NAPLAN, spelling tests and maths facts. However it is not necessary the most effective way to teach and assess.
Traditional Assessment:
-"requires students to provide single correct answers", therefore students can only be assessed on content knowledge or correct guesses.
-"promotes a view of the curriculum as the narrow, often superficial coverage of content", this can create an uninteresting classroom environment which can cause students to switch off and produce little or no learning and work.
-"provides little meaningful diagnostic information" on how students can use skills, knowledge, creativity and higher order thinking to complete tasks (Brady, 2012. p. 44).
Examples of Traditional Assessment Strategies
-multiple-choice tests
-true or false tests
-matching tests
-short answer tests
-cloze tests
-interpretive tests
-standardised tests
-tests set up as traditional testing (silent room, desks separated, eyes on own work, no borrowing, no speaking, hands up if you have a question, no preparation for test, time limit given) (Brady, 2012. p.46).
The clear difference between traditional or typical testing and authentic testing is that typical testing "must be unknown in advance to ensure validity". Students are assessed and marked on how many correct answers they have or have guessed right. Whereas authentic testing "is known as much as possible in advance". Students are assessed on quality of response through predictable skills and contexts (Wiggins, 1998).