Authenticity
Overview
Authentic learning is a pedagogical approach to engage students in learning by integrating information into real world problems and situations. This type of learning helps students create information that is useful in the world and can be applied in their daily life.
Authentic learning is a pedagogical approach to engage students in learning by integrating information into real world problems and situations. This type of learning helps students create information that is useful in the world and can be applied in their daily life.
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Key Concepts
Connections to Real World Issues
Connections to Real World Issues
- Connecting lessons to meaningful and relevant issues is important to keep students engaged and motivated in their learning. For example, students can research a local historian and develop a poster displaying their findings for local elementary schools. This activity ultimately provides students with a relevant topic and a purpose for their work.
- It is important that students use higher level thinking. This allows for deep analysis and thoughtful construction of information. Therefore, students must do the inquiry themselves and think about the "why" as opposed to the "what." For example, providing students with problem-based learning tasks will allow students to think more critically and apply, evaluate and synthesize information.
- Providing students with the opportunity to have a voice in their learning process is essential in student engagement and motivation. This allows students to develop skill sets unique to their learning by pursuing their own learning opportunities. For example, allowing students the option of an essay, diorama or skit for their final assignment provides students with choice and allows them to utilize their individual strengths with their chosen task.
Practical Suggestions for Educators
Integrate Technology
Integrate Technology
- With the availability and increase of technology in the classroom it is important to integrate it into your teachings. Technology can help teachers creating deeper thinking and activities by using the SAMR model effectively and incorporating social media into their teaching practice. Students can create blog posts, e-books, websites and YouTube videos to connect with a wide variety of people across the globe or locally in their community.
- Authentic learning ensures students take a hands-on approach to their learning and get involved with their community. For example, rather than lecturing students on Canada's Food Guide have students plan out their own meals for a given week. Students can then determine the healthiest and most realistic options while also learning about the topic. In order to have a community impact, students could then outline ideal meal ideas for their own family and friends.
- Students gain more in-depth knowledge of course content as well as real-world issues through the exploration and study of real-world challenges and problems. Therefore, giving students the opportunity to create their own projects allows students the opportunity to be authentic, engaged and accountable in their learning.
- Role playing is an important learning strategy that allows students to take on the role of a character to see different perspectives and ultimately enhance their learning. In a history class for example, students can gain a better sense of historical figures if they are given the role of someone from the past. The student must then immerse themselves in this role and present their findings to the class in a form of a music video, website or e-book.
Resources
Chang, T., & Kinshuk, R. (2018). Authentic learning through advances in technologies. Singapore: Springer.
Larmer, J. (2012). PBL: what does it take for a project to be “authentic”? Edutopia. Retrieved from:https://www.edutopia.org/blog/authentic-project-based- learning-john-larmer
University of Illinois. (2018). Teaching and Learning: Problem-based learning. Retrieved from: http://citl.illinois.edu/citl-101/teaching- learning/resources/teaching-strategies/problem-based-learning-(pbl)
Revington, S. (2016). Defining authentic learning. Retrieved from: http://authenticlearning.weebly.com
Youtube Link: 5 tips for an Authentic Learning Environment. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jT9PQj3HkZ4
Chang, T., & Kinshuk, R. (2018). Authentic learning through advances in technologies. Singapore: Springer.
Larmer, J. (2012). PBL: what does it take for a project to be “authentic”? Edutopia. Retrieved from:https://www.edutopia.org/blog/authentic-project-based- learning-john-larmer
University of Illinois. (2018). Teaching and Learning: Problem-based learning. Retrieved from: http://citl.illinois.edu/citl-101/teaching- learning/resources/teaching-strategies/problem-based-learning-(pbl)
Revington, S. (2016). Defining authentic learning. Retrieved from: http://authenticlearning.weebly.com
Youtube Link: 5 tips for an Authentic Learning Environment. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jT9PQj3HkZ4