Winterfest 2024: Designing authentic, experiential learning assessments

One common question about experiential learning is how to assess it. Assessing experiential learning involves measuring learning in both the process and the product. One way to achieve this is to create authentic assessments within an experiential learning framework. These assessments require applying learned knowledge and exercising judgment in situations that mirror realistic challenges or tasks. By combining these approaches, students’ understanding and skills can be assessed through a final product, while also fostering their capacity to apply knowledge in realistic settings and improve their reflective and critical thinking abilities.

This interactive workshop aims to help faculty members develop assessments that integrate experiential learning and authentic assessment approaches. The workshop will describe the key characteristics of authentic, experiential assessments and provide opportunities for participants to practice designing effective assessments that they can then tailor to their unique teaching context. Participants will leave the workshop with practical tools and information on authentic experiential assessment that they can utilize in the future.

Speakers:

Samantha Larocque, Lead, Experiential Learning

Ying Li, Curriculum Developer