This Is Not a Test: How Authentic Assessment Can Help to Measure What Matters

[MarisaBluestone]

Authentic assessment isn’t just a buzzword, it’s a better way to see what students really understand. Instead of asking them to circle the right answer, it asks them to apply knowledge in real (or real-ish) ways that mirror the messy, complex world beyond your classroom.

It’s not a new idea. John Dewey was calling for “learning by doing” back in the 1890s. And in the 1980s, researchers like Lauren Resnick were pointing out that recall-based tests weren’t enough if we wanted students to transfer their knowledge beyond the classroom. Fast forward to now: we’re in the age of AI, complex societal challenges, and rapidly changing workplaces. That’s why authentic assessment is getting renewed attention—it helps students build transferable skills like critical thinking, collaboration, and self-regulated learning.

As Sarah Gray, Executive Learning Research Manager at Macmillan Learning, puts it,  “Authentic assessment is just one way of packaging multiple evidence-based practices into one learning experience.” And if you’re not sure where to start we have 10 tips to help you build meaningful assignments that support critical thinking, reflection, and real-world transfer.

If you want to dig deeper into the research, hear examples, and learn why it works, be sure to check out the full episode of our podcast: Beyond the Bubble Sheet: What Authentic Assessment Really Looks Like on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite streaming platform.

Start with the skill, not the format.

It’s tempting to start with a fun idea like a poster or a podcast, but it’s more effective to begin by asking: What do I want students to be able to do by the end of this unit?

If the skill is cost-benefit analysis, for example, don’t stop at a worksheet. Ask students to decide whether to go to a Taylor Swift concert. That real-world decision requires them to calculate opportunity cost, evaluate social dynamics, compare prices, and weigh values while applying what they’ve learned.

Why it works: You’re aligning the task with the skill, not the medium.

Break down the task (not the student).

Authentic assessment doesn’t mean throwing students into the deep end and hoping they swim. Instead, scaffold the assignment so students can tackle it step by step. Use templates, set milestones and build in peer review. A rough draft or design sketch isn’t just a checkpoint,  it’s part of the learning.

Why it works: Breaking a complex task into smaller steps gives students confidence, structure, and space to grow. The "Assessment Triangle" from the “Knowing What Students Know” report reinforces that good assessment depends on observation, interpretation, and design working together.

Make room for reflection.

Reflection turns doing into learning. Ask students to annotate their work, explain their choices, or answer questions like “What’s the second-best solution?” or “Where did you revise your thinking?” You can collect this as a reflection journal, a short video,  annotated portfolio, or a conversation.

Why it works: Metacognition (thinking about thinking) is one of the strongest predictors of long-term learning. And it’s a skill students can use in any context. Research has shown that students who regularly reflect on their learning are more likely to persist in college and perform better academically. 

Be transparent about expectations. Especially when it comes to AI.

A clear rubric isn’t just for grading. It helps students understand what matters, where to focus, and how to grow. Share the rubric early. Walk through examples. Better yet, co-create it with your students to build buy-in and clarity. And if you’re letting students use AI, be explicit about where it’s allowed and where it’s not. Set the guardrails before the chatbot takes the wheel.

Why it works: Students can’t meet expectations if they don’t know what they are. 

Don’t just allow collaboration, teach it.

Group work can be powerful or painful. The difference between the two is how it's structured. It works best when you assign roles, use peer evaluations, set norms and check in. When done right, it mirrors the dynamics of real-world teamwork, where roles are clear, contributions are valued and the goal is shared success.

Why it works: Structured collaboration improves critical thinking, accountability, and engagement and helps students build real teamwork skills. Johnson & Johnson’s research shows that cooperative learning significantly outperforms individualistic structures on achievement and retention.

Add relevance.

Ask yourself: “Where would someone use this outside of class?” Maybe your students design a PSA for a health campaign, write a funding pitch for a nonprofit, or build a prototype to solve a campus problem. Even a unit on basic statistics could be framed around creating an infographic to explain local survey data.

Why it works: When students understand why the task matters, they’re more motivated, and more likely to transfer that learning to new contexts. Newmann & Wehlage identified “value beyond school” as one of three pillars of authentic intellectual work.

Grade the process, not just the product.

A perfect final submission doesn’t tell the full story. Did the student revise? Did they respond to feedback? Did they adapt when things didn’t go as planned? Build that into your grading. Ask for annotations or reflections. Let students show you how they got there, and not just where they landed.

Why it works: You’re assessing real learning, not just polish or performance.

Start small.

You don’t need a capstone project to try authentic assessment. You can start with one question, one activity, one moment. Turn a quiz into a case study. Replace a discussion board with a role-play. Add a real-world twist to an existing assignment. Small shifts make a difference.

Why it works: It’s manageable, scalable, and still meaningful. A shift from memorization to meaning doesn’t require a whole new curriculum.

Teach students how to do authentic work.

Students are used to being told what to do. Authentic assessment asks them to think like a professional, which means to apply judgment, handle ambiguity and revise their work with purpose. That’s a big leap. Model the thinking. Show examples. Let them critique AI-generated work. Ask them to revise prompts or evaluate the logic in a flawed solution.

Why it works: Students need to see what good work looks like and how to get there  before they can do it themselves. As Sarah Gray puts it, “Students need to practice both skills: using AI supportively, and exercising their own judgment.”

Cut the fluff.

Creativity is great. But a diorama of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre? That’s not authentic unless it connects directly to your goals. Instead, ask students to write a director’s note about how they’d stage Macbeth to explore ambition and fate. Now you’re getting insight into interpretation, argument, and design.

Why it works: You’re assessing understanding, not just effort or decoration.

Want the full story, including research highlights and real educator tips (and even a TikTok joke about mitosis)? Check out the podcast: “Beyond the Bubble Sheet: What Authentic Assessment Really Looks Like.”

And if you’ve got a favorite assignment that fits the bill (or one that totally flopped), we want to hear it. Leave us a voicemail at (512) 765-4688 or send us an email at TheWhatAndWhoOfEDU@Macmillan.com and your story could be featured in a future episode.