Indonesian EFL lecturers’ positive perceptions and adaptive strategies in implementing authentic assessment for sustainable education: Mixed-methods study

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26418/jeltim.v7i2.96334

Keywords:

Authentic Assessment, EFL Lectures, Sustainability Education, Higher Education

Abstract

Authentic assessment (AuA) is emerging as an alternative that has its own appeal, especially in the context of sustainability education. Although numerous studies have investigated how authentic assessment is perceived and practiced in EFL higher education within Indonesia, studies which connects AuA practices with sustainability education are still underrepresented. AuA practices can promote students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills and is increasingly recognized for its potentials to promote meaningful and effective learning, especially in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classrooms. This study investigates two key questions: (1) how EFL lecturers perceive and address the challenges of implementing authentic assessment in sustainability education; and (2) what instructional strategies lecturers can use to implement authentic assessment in sustainability education. Using a mixed-methods approach, survey data and follow-up interviews were collected from 30 English lecturers of various universities in Indonesia. The quantitative data shows that lecturers view authentic assessment as a relevant and effective tool. However, the data highlighted two key challenges: limited time and pressure from institutional expectations. Qualitative results further reveal how lecturers design assessment tasks, reflect on their practice, and integrate sustainability values into their teaching, while pointing to the need for institutional support. Overall, the study highlights lecturers’ positive perceptions and emphasizes the importance of external support to ensure authentic assessment effectively promotes context-relevant learning and sustainability education. How to cite this paper: Lumintang, S. F., & Kuswandono, P. (2025). Indonesian EFL lecturers’ positive perceptions and adaptive strategies in implementing authentic assessment for sustainable education: Mixed-methods study. Journal of English Language Teaching Innovations and Materials (Jeltim), 7(2), 38-58. http://dx.doi.org/10.26418/jeltim.v7i2.96334

References

Andrade, H., & Du, Y. (2007). Student responses to criteriaâ€referenced selfâ€assessment. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 32(2), 159–181.

Andrade, H. L. (2010). Students as the definitive source of formative assessment: Academic self-assessment and the self-regulation of learning. In Handbook of formative assessment (pp. 90–105). Routledge.

Black, P., & Wiliam, D. (1998). Assessment and classroom learning. Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice, 5(1), 7–74.

Bolarinwa, K. K. , & A. O. A. (2020). Authentic Assessment Practices and their Relevance in Higher Education. Journal of Educational and Social Research, 139–146.

Boud, D., & Falchikov, N. (2006). Aligning assessment with longâ€term learning. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 31(4), 399–413.

Bourn, D. (2016). Teachers as agents of social change. International Journal of Development Education and Global Learning, 7(3), 63–77.

Brown, G. T. L., & Hirschfeld, G. H. F. (2008). Students’ conceptions of assessment: Links to outcomes. Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice, 15(1), 3–17.

Brown, H. D. (2010). Language Assessment: Principles and Classroom Practices.

Byram, M. (2008). From foreign language education to education for intercultural citizenship: Essays and reflections (Vol. 17). Multilingual matters.

Cheng, L. , & F. J. (2021). Assessment for learning in the language classroom. Challenges and Opportunities. Language Teaching Research, 3–12.

Creswell, J. W. (2002). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative (Vol. 7). Prentice Hall Upper Saddle River, NJ.

Creswell, J. W., & Clark, V. L. P. (2017). Designing and conducting mixed methods research. Sage publications.

Darling-Hammond, L., & Adamson, F. (2014). Beyond the bubble test: How performance assessments support 21st century learning. John Wiley & Sons.

Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The" what" and" why" of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4), 227–268.

Gulikers, J. , & B. L. (2017). Assessment for learning: Bridging theory and practice. In S. Billett, C. Harteis, & H. Gruber (Eds.), International handbook of research in professional and practice-based learning .

Gulikers, J. T. M., Bastiaens, T. J., & Kirschner, P. A. (2004). A five-dimensional framework for authentic assessment. Educational Technology Research and Development, 52(3), 67–86.

Leong, H., & Rethinasamy, S. (2023). Continuous professional development: Assessing teachers’ experiences with the cascading training model. Journal of English Language Teaching Innovations and Materials (Jeltim), 5(2), 160–175.

Looney, J. W. (2011). Integrating formative and summative assessment: Progress toward a seamless system?

Lumintang, S. F., & Bram, B. (2024). Examining Self-Efficacy and Language Anxiety of Theological Seminary Students. Linguistics and ELT Journal, 12(2), 169–179.

Manjet, K. , & K. F. (2019). The implementation of authentic assessment in higher education: A case study of EFL lecturers’ practices. . Journal of English for Academic Purposes.

McMillan, J. H., & Hellsten, L. (2010). Classroom assessment: Principles and practice for effective standards-based instruction. Pearson Education Canada.

Mezirow, J. (2000). Learning as Transformation: Critical Perspectives on a Theory in Progress. The Jossey-Bass Higher and Adult Education Series. ERIC.

Mueller, J. (2018). Authentic Assessment Toolbox. Retrieved from http://jfmueller.faculty. noctrl.edu/toolbox/.

Nguyen, H. T. M. , & W. I. (2021). Institutional support for implementing sustainable assessment practices in higher education: Voices from English language lecturers. Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education. 906–920.

Nguyen, H. T. M. , & W. M. (2016). Sustainable assessment for learning in EFL classrooms: Voices from Vietnamese teachers. RELC Journal, 157–173.

Pinner, R. S. (2022). Authenticity and teacher identity: Implications for authentic assessment in language education. Language Teaching Research, .

Pintrich, P. R., & Schunk, D. H. (2002). Motivation in education: Theory, research, and applications. (No Title).

Rahimi, M., & Zhang, L. J. (2015). Exploring non-native English-speaking teachers’ cognitions about corrective feedback in teaching English oral communication. System, 55, 111–122.

Rieckmann, M. (2017). Education for sustainable development goals: Learning objectives. UNESCO publishing.

Sadler, D. R. (1989). Formative assessment and the design of instructional systems. Instructional Science, 18(2), 119–144.

Sterling, S. (2011). Transformative learning and sustainability: Sketching the conceptual ground. Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, 5(11), 17–33.

Tashakkori, A., & Teddlie, C. (2010). Sage handbook of mixed methods in social & behavioral research. sage.

Tilbury, D. (2011). Education for sustainable development: An expert review of processes and learning.

Tomlinson, C. A. (2014). The differentiated classroom: Responding to the needs of all learners. Ascd.

Torrance, H. (2012). Formative assessment at the crossroads: Conformative, deformative and transformative assessment. Oxford Review of Education, 38(3), 323–342.

Vong, K. I. , & W. M. (2021). Teachers’ assessment literacy and practice: A systematic review. Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice, .

Vygotsky, L. S., & Cole, M. (1978). Mind in society: Development of higher psychological processes. Harvard university press.

Wals, A. E. J., & Corcoran, P. B. (2023). Learning for sustainability in times of accelerating change. Brill.

Wiggins, G. (1998). Educative Assessment. Designing Assessments To Inform and Improve Student Performance. ERIC.

Yan, Z., & Cheng, E. C. K. (2015). Primary teachers’ attitudes, intentions and practices regarding formative assessment. Teaching and Teacher Education, 45, 128–136.

Downloads

Published

2025-10-16