Authentic assessment is a concept that, although considered fairly new to the academic world, has been around a long time in one form or another. The underlying principle is that a student can best demonstrate capabilities in a given discipline by actually performing the learned knowledge as opposed to writing about it. It is an extension of performance assessment, but it takes the learning process one step further.In performance assessment, a student demonstrates the learned skill or content in a practical application for the teacher or a suitable audience. An example would be a music student playing a piece that has been rehearsed and being graded on the performance of the music.
Authentic assessment incorporates a learning process within the assessment itself. In an extension of the previous example of the music student, the difference would be that the student may be graded on how well he or she performs a piece of music that has not been previously rehearsed. In its purest form, authentic assessment uses an activity to teach the student while the assessment is taking place.
Another example would be a chemistry class doing a lab experiment. Although the groundwork and underlying principles may have been covered in a previous class, the actual experiment would involve learning how to apply the knowledge covered in class to a practical application. The process of conducting the lab is in itself a learning experience, and the students are evaluated on how they work through the procedures as well as the eventual outcome of the assignment.
You can find some information on the development of authentic assessment instruments and their uses at the following sources:Frazier,Chapman H.,"The Development of an Authentic Assessment instrument:The Scored Discussion", English Journal,Jan 1997 vol. 86, no. 1, p.37-41.
Lengeling, Laura J., "Group Reflection: Student Generated Authentic Assessment", School Arts, April 1997, vol.96, no. 8, p.46-48.
Farmer, Lesley S., "Authentic Assessment of Information Literacy Through Electronic Products", The Book Report, Sep-Oct 1997, vol. 16, no.2, p.11-14.
Follow the link below for some further readings on authentic assessment and its uses in an educational program: Annotated Readings--Authentic Assessment
�J.Kosek,2000