Glossary definition

Authentic assessments test the student’s ability to apply their knowledge.
Authentic learning involves students engaging in tasks that they are likely to encounter in the real world (i.e. in the occupation in which they are becoming qualified). Likewise, authentic assessments ask students to apply what they have learnt in the course to real world situations.
It is important in authentic learning and authentic assessments that effort is made to provide 1) authentic contexts that reflect the way the knowledge will be used in real life, and 2) authentic activities that reflect how things will be done in real life. To do this it is important to provide students with access to experts who can model the processes.
Authentic assessments often require students to reflect on their practice, and articulate their thought processes.