Authentic Assessments

Below are several definitions of "authentic assessments" provided by three experts in the area

"A form of assessment in which students are asked to perform real-world tasks that demonstrate meaningful application of essential knowledge and skills" -- Jon Mueller

"...Engaging and worthy problems or questions of importance, in which students must use knowledge to fashion performances effectively and creatively. The tasks are either replicas of or analogous to the kinds of problems faced by adult citizens and consumers or professionals in the field." -- Grant Wiggins -- (Wiggins, 1993, p. 229).

"Performance assessments call upon the examinee to demonstrate specific skills and competencies, that is, to apply the skills and knowledge they have mastered." -- Richard J. Stiggins -- (Stiggins, 1987, p. 34).

Jon Mueller has created a wonderful site called The Authentic Assessment Toolbox where he provides definitions, examples, comparisons with traditional assessments, tools, etc. This is a site worth visiting. Below I provide a screenshot of his site.