Introduction to Active Learning and Authentic Assessment: Concepts and Applications

This chapter describes the intentions and content of this handbook. This chapter also introduces the two main concepts addressed in this handbook: “Active learning” and “authentic assessment.” Concerning the latter concept, this chapter suggests a spectrum of authentic assessment, linked to different active learning approaches, from approaches highly immersive with real-world tasks to approaches with more simulated or contrived environments. This spectrum may help module designers identify which kind of active learning approach for authentic assessment would work better, considering the constraints, under which the module will operate, and the resources available.