Let $V$ be a finite dimensional real vector space, let $\mathrm{Alt}^k(V)$ denote the space of alternating $k$-linear forms on $V$ and let $\wedge^k(V)$ denote the $k^{th}$ exterior power of $V$. I am trying to see why the algebraic dual $\wedge^k(V)^* := (\wedge^k(V))^*$ is isomorphic to $\mathrm{Alt}^k(V)$. Here are my thoughts:
By the universal property of the exterior power, for any alternating $k$-linear form $f$ with domain $V^k$ there exists a unique linear form $\phi$ with domain $\wedge^k(V)$ such that $$ \phi(v_1 \wedge \cdots \wedge v_k) = f(v_1, \dots, v_k). $$ The universal property thus provides a mechanism to produce elements in $\wedge^k(V)^*$ from elements in $\mathrm{Alt}^k(V)$ and this mechanism of production is unique.
Thus, we have an injection $$ \Phi: \mathrm{Alt}^k(V) \longrightarrow \wedge^k(V)^* $$
What I'm not sure about is how to argue surjectivity; what is the best way to approach this?
The canonical map $\psi\colon V^k \to \bigwedge^k V$ given by $\psi(v_1, \ldots, v_k) = v_1 \wedge \cdots \wedge v_k$ is alternating. If you have an element $g \in (\bigwedge^k V)^*$ then $g \circ \psi\colon V^k \to \mathbf R$ is also alternating, and I believe that this assignment $g \mapsto g \circ \psi$ gives you an inverse to $\Phi$.
This is simpler than you might fear, and has little to do with the ground ring or the finiteness of $V$. And maybe we should expect that, since the universal property of $\bigwedge^k V$ more or less says that it represents the functor $W \mapsto L^k_a(V, W)$.
Extra trouble and hypotheses seem to enter once you try to write things such as an isomorphism $(\bigwedge^k V)^* \approx \bigwedge^k (V^*)$, an embedding $\bigwedge^k V \hookrightarrow V^{\otimes k}$, or the wedge product induced on alternating forms. Some examples of this are discussed in the back of Fulton and Harris.