Authentic Assessment: Breathing Life into Tests and Summatives (45 Minutes)

Course Description

As music teachers, sometimes we find ourselves giving music theory tests, playing tests, and sight-reading summative assessments that are out of context to what our students are actually doing musically in the classroom. In some ways, this definitely helps our students improve their skill set, but it also can end up inauthentic and take away from the music making. This workshop will give guidance on how to dig deeper and assess your students in fun and engaging ways that will allow them to use their skills authentically.

Course Objectives

During the workshop, you will: 1. Learn how authentic assessments can breathe life into tests and summative assessments. 2. Understand ways to determine if an assessment is inauthentic. 3. Realize the importance of using examples and not instructions with your students.

Student Learning Outcomes

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to: 1. Use authentic assessments in your music classroom by learning new ways to change up the assessments you’re already doing. 2. Choose authentic tasks to use in assessments by understanding the things musicians do in the real world. 3. Plan instruction that includes authentic assessments by scaffolding backwards with the end goal in mind.

Requirements for Completion

To complete this workshop, you will: 1. Complete 1 workshop. 2. Take 1 short, multiple-choice quiz.