Teachers spend their days dealing with various forms of assessments. They observe student behavior, compare a project to a rubric, mini-conference, listen to an answer given orally and examine it for the elements of a correct response, and much more. There are many different ways to construct assessments. Projects, speeches, term papers, homework assignments, and exams are just a few possibilities. In the past few years a push towards more authentic assessment has become more evident.
Authentic assessment deals directly with real world application.
It is a concentrated effort to put an end to skills in isolation. Through authentic assessment students begin to see the connection and understand they will use this concept or skill out of a school setting. Authentic assignments mimic skills that adults need to function in a literate society.