I think the authentic assessment is very applicable, not only in online or blended settings but in traditional setting also. It builds on the development of higher order thinking skills and that is what all teachers should look to build. I really like the idea of building discussion boards into the classes as a way to encourage interaction be tween students and myself, and as a way to bring in bigger ideas to explore as a group. The problem I see in implementing this is the time dilation factor. In the on-line classes I currently teach the students are greatly scattered in where they are in the class. This will be a problem when I want the students to bounce ideas off of each other like in a traditional class discussion. I debate if it is worth putting hard cut offs in place as far as due dates, for some it would keep them working that wait until the very end now, others it would just bring about the point where they quit sooner. I can't help but think about the students I have had that I thought there was no way they would make the end of class guideline and then they do. Will I loose these students in a class with hard due dates that make them keep up or will they keep up because of the due dates?  I will probably compromise and make late assignments only worth 80%, then bend the rules some when the 20% makes a student slightly below passing. I also want to work in some padlet discussions, but this again brings up the time issue, some students will be waiting for others to respond to their padlet pads, while others will get there late and just read others and not get the discussion portion of the class since all the other students will be done.