Authentic assessments require application of what students have learned to a new situation, and that demands judgment to determine what information and skills are relevant and how they should be used. Authentic assignments often focus on complex real-world situations and constraints. They can involve a real-world audience of stakeholders or “clients”. According to Grant Wiggins (1998), an assignment is authentic if is realistic, requires judgment and innovation, replicates or simulates the contexts in which adults are “tested” in the workplace or in civic or personal life, assesses the student’s ability to efficiently and effectively use a repertoire of knowledge and skills to negotiate a complex tasks, and allows appropriate opportunities to rehearse, practice, consult resources, and get feedback on and refine performances and products.
