A Tale of Two Authentic Assessment Tools

With the pressures of high-stakes assessments in today's classrooms, it is not uncommon to find practices such as teaching-to-the-test and skill and drill. When only relying on traditional models of assessment that emphasize recall of facts and fixed responses, few opportunities exist to link instruction with student performance. Instead, ongoing authentic assessments allow students to demonstrate their knowledge in meaningful ways and help teachers make instructional decisions to foster continued student growth. This article describes and illustrates two alternative approaches to high-stakes and summative assessments, including SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Outcomes, and Threats) and Free Associational Assessment.