Authentic Assessment for Basic Clothing Construction: The Practical Final Exam

Abstract

<p>Authentic assessment seeks to evaluate a student’s competency by using practical assessment situations that demonstrate mastery of learned knowledge and skills. In comparison to traditional assessment methods that typically use examinations that include such question forms as multiple choice, true or false, and matching, authentic assessment complements the traditional approach by testing a student beyond the understanding of basic course concepts through the application of their skills in real world problem settings (Mueller, 2014). One area suited for authentic assessment in Clothing and Textiles education is in learning basic sewing and apparel construction skills. Such basic courses develop a student’s problem-solving and motor skills through hands-on activities such as instructor-guided sewing sample development and sewing projects.</p>