What is Authentic Assessment in Mathematics?
In order to test students effectively in mathematics, authentic assessment must be defined. In the past, memorizing and solving set problems defined authentic mathematics assessment. Kaplan (as cited in Harac, 2005, p. 4) states For all the talk about math wars in this country, most public school classes focus more on rote memorization than on theory. [Kaplan], after 40-plus years as educators, believe that learning the mathematical process is an end in itself. The approach that they and their Math Circle instructors employis simple: Present an abstract concept as a puzzle, then let the students wrestle with it and come up with their own solutions. Not only is the process fun, the Kaplans believe, but it can be applied to other subjects as well. Many other mathematics educators agree with Kaplan. The purpose of mathematics education is to teach students to solve puzzles using mathematical logic not just to get the right answer to the mathematical problem. Thus, the definition of authen
