# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Scaffolding Questions to Develop Deeper Understanding

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A blog about digital leadership, pedagogy, learning, and transformative change in education.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Authentic Learning at Schrader Elementary

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Muskegon Area Intermediate School District

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Authentic Learning | Ravenna High School

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Get a daily email featuring the latest talk, plus a quick mix of trending content.

By subscribing, you understand and agree that we will store, process and manage your personal information according to our Privacy Policy

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Mary Ruth McGinn: Authentic Learning as a Vehicle for Change

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
How producing an original children's opera in public schools can be used to transform education into authentic teaching and inspire creativity.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Students write books on life lessons by senior citizens

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Students write books on life lessons by senior citizens Subscribe to WPBF on YouTube now for more: http://bit.ly/1qfxvbX Get more West Palm Beach news: http://www.wpbf.com/ Like us: http://www.facebook.com/wpbf25news Follow us: http://twitter.com/WPBF25News Google+: http://plus.google.com/+WPBF

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Unique partnership between students & seniors creates priceless stories

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Ariana Del Re created a unique business called 'Write My LifeBook' where she gathers information and produces a personal biography for the client. Out of this idea and her unique format of questions, Ariana expanded the concept to create partnerships between high school students and seniors.

# data[].attributes.body
Service Learning

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How Service-Learning in Spanish Speaks to the Crisis in the Human

# data[].attributes.body
Good questions for scaffolding

# data[].attributes.body
Questions to guide student thinking

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Which would make the most effective lesson: learning what an engineer does by reading a book or solving an engineering problem? The latter is certainly more engaging and describes a learning-by-doing approach called authentic learning.

The idea behind authentic learning is simple. Students feel more involved and motivated to learn when they're tackling real-world issues they care about. And as a result, they remember what they've learned and can apply it more effectively in the future.

But authentic learning is more than delivering instruction about these kinds of problems. Authentic learning means getting hands-on! So, let's explore what it means and what ideas teachers can practice in their classrooms.

What is authentic learning?

Think of authentic learning as real-life learning-the kind that comes from first-hand experience rather than a textbook or lecture. And the result is more than the sum of its parts: it's a tangible outcome that can be shared with the world.

Imagine students learning addition and subtraction not by completing worksheets at their desks but by running a bake sale at lunch. Imagine studying birds not by watching a video but by documenting local migration and sharing results with a local birdwatching organization. Imagine learning medieval art not by replicating The Unicorn Tapestries for their parents' fridge but by creating an exhibit at a local museum.

Not only are they engaging with the subject to create something tangible, but they're also learning about everything involved in the experience, like:

Conducting in-depth research and creating plans

Managing the logistics of supply and delivery

Finding and communicating with experts

Building relationships with community organizations

Pricing and selling products and services

At the same time, they're building on their foundational skills or achieving the standards set in their curriculum. Reading, writing, math, and history are all critical elements in making authentic learning experiences come to life.

So, what makes authentic learning work? We've gathered eight fundamental principles teachers can use in their lesson planning:

1.) Activities are meaningful: Student work connects directly to the real world. Activities are designed to explore students' passions, create meaningful discussions, connect emotionally, and solve relevant problems they care about within a community.

2.) There's a valuable outcome: Students create a quality product or work from ideation to completion. They do it just like the professionals do (or as close as they can get), using actual or simulated materials or environments.

3.) There's a genuine audience: Students present that outcome to a defined group of real-world stakeholders. Yes, that might be parents, but it could also be a neighborhood, a business community, a sports association, or even your school itself.

4.) Students have freedom: In authentic learning, teachers act less as instructors who deliver learning at the front of the room. Instead, they're guides who direct student creation. They encourage curiosity and promote self-directed inquiry.

5.) There's no "right" answer: Students can take multiple paths toward a solution they define. They are free to interact with, interpret and reflect on diverse approaches, and decide together which to pursue.

6.) Collaboration is baked in: Students work in small and large groups to make decisions and complete tasks. They also work with partners in their community to bring their work to fruition.

7.) It's cross-disciplinary: Very little of what we do in our lives fits neatly into buckets. Authentic learning encourages students to test new roles, consider other perspectives, and think across multiple subject areas.

8.) Learning takes time: Authentic learning is complex and doesn't happen overnight. Students need time to identify a problem, investigate a solution, and launch something new.

The whole premise of authentic learning is that students are more motivated to learn-and more engaged in that learning-when they're doing something they care about or something that impacts the world around them.

When they care, they take ownership. When they take ownership, they turn in a high-quality result. In doing so, that learning is more liable to stick around for the long term than short-term memory exercises or knowledge that gets abandoned once the final test is complete.

Proponents say this is how our minds are naturally primed to learn. But there's a little more to it than that.

Authentic learning closely aligns with the kinds of complex tasks that we do in real life. As such, it encourages students to think more deeply, consider different perspectives and outcomes, and recognize nuances beyond math worksheets or multiple-choice drills.

It builds portable skills that serve students well in a fast-changing and unpredictable world. Complex communication skills like negotiation, for example, aren't part of most lesson plans, but they're necessary tools in most workplaces. Early exposure in a safe environment where students experiment and practice freely can help them succeed later in adulthood.

It also allows students to try different hats and determine which fits best. One student may discover they have a knack for making videos, and another may prefer to create spreadsheets and crunch numbers. Ideally, an authentic learning activity will provide enough breadth for students to try different things and enough depth for them to dive in when their interests and strengths align.

Building these skills doesn't necessarily mean ditching instruction, lesson planning, and curricula as we know them.

Critics of authentic learning may point to learning standards and question how a school can cover them effectively in this learning format. Alternatively, they may argue that the "basics" will get left behind, displaced by all the tasks required in an authentic learning activity.

However, teachers who integrate authentic learning in their lesson planning argue otherwise. They say core standards and the "basics" of traditional education happen more organically with an authentic approach. "The doing consolidates all the learning that went into the event," writes authentic learning champion Steve Revington.

First, not all learning needs to be authentic learning. If you're just starting or need to change a few minds, start small with a single pilot learning event.

But even a single project means injecting authentic planning activities into your lesson planning ideas.

Understand what your students, their families, and their communities care about. Your students need to connect with the project if they're going to get the most out of it.

Define a product that students will create and an event where they'll showcase it. Teachers can work with students to figure this out.

Align different subject areas and standards to create more depth and context. For example, if you're making a living Roman market, students may write creative stories about the people who buy and sell there, practice Roman numerals in math, create mosaic art and learn how to tell time using a sundial.

Plan with students, starting with a goal and shared vision. Identify what skills are needed, what tasks need to be completed, who needs to be involved, and what resources they'll use, along with a timeline.

Assign work together with the class. Assignments may involve adopting roles, like "chef" or "engineer," to add a little dash of immersion.

Schedule time to do this work in your classroom and others as you get more teachers on board. Remember, this kind of learning unfolds across several subject areas, so it'll take more than one teacher to set aside time in their lesson plan.

Revisit your plan together as you go along. After all, most projects need adjustment, and learning is often organic and fluid, so it's important to learn that things change-and that's okay.

Reflect on how things are going-and after the project is finished, on how things went. Involve students to gauge their feelings, what they learned, and what they'd do differently next time.

Perhaps technology is the focus of your authentic learning project. After all, students have done amazing things in STEM, from removing microplastics from wastewater to helping those with hearing impairments navigate the world.

Technology plays an important supporting role in any authentic learning activity. For instance, your authentic planning activities may involve the following:

Online news and images can spark ideas in students for potential projects, community issues, and problems to solve in their authentic learning activities

Communication tools connect students to their communities and outside resources

Collaboration tools make it easy for students to gather resources, share ideas and work together on every aspect of their project

Research tools allow students to find reliable, up-to-date information from the same sources experts and professionals use

Virtual environments allow them to test and test again until they get an experiment just right-without making a mess

Interactive lessons can help them learn and practice the skills and knowledge needed to advance their work in a safe environment

And, for teachers, technology is a great enabler, too.

Lesson planning platforms enable teachers to map each day's authentic learning activities and improve the relevance of each lesson. This structure is particularly helpful when organizing your lesson planning ideas with other teachers involved in a student's learning journey.

Curriculum mapping software can help align learning between different subject areas and ensure each class is on track to meet the expected standards. It also allows teachers to track and measure student progress toward authentic learning goals.

Plus, using technology is part of authentic learning because it is ingrained in our real world. Many jobs and everyday tasks require digital tools in some way or another, so giving students time to explore and develop their skills with them now better prepares them for tomorrow's future.

Here's the thing about the real world: sometimes, it gets messy. Our lives and experiences are filled with layers of nuance, and the correct path forward is rarely cut and dried. Rarely is there one "right" answer. We simply do our best, figuring things out by pulling on our previous knowledge, trying things out, and evaluating where to go next. And with each experience, we are better prepared for the next.

That's the kind of learning that authentic learning strives to achieve. And that's the kind of learning that lasts a lifetime.

View the Demo

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Authentic Learning: Exploring the 8 Core Elements

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Explore authentic learning and get ideas and guidelines teachers can use in their classrooms.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
According to the Authentic Learning creator and guru, Steve Revington, Authentic Learning "is real life learning. It is a style of learning that encourages students to create a tangible, useful products to be shared with their world."

Not only are we teachers bringing in real world context to our classrooms, but our students are taking real world issues and problems and working to solve them and developing solutions applicable to the world or community around them. This is the future of learning. Students will become adults in a world more complex than our own and will have to solve real world problems creatively and collaboratively. So why not start them on the path for success?

Aspects of Authentic Learning

Now that you have an idea of the definition of Authentic Learning, let's dive into the aspects that make Authentic Learning what it is.

Learning as an Active Process

This means that students are not just sitting at their desks listening to lecture after lecture. This is not teacher directed learning. It is student-led learning where your class is up and moving and exploring the world around them. This could look like something as simple as taking a community walk, field trip or even virtually connecting with other students or relevant special interest groups.

Self-Directed Inquiry

If you are familiar with the Inquiry Cycle or Inquiry Based Learning, this will come naturally to your classroom. If not, this just means that the learning going on in your classroom is led by your students' questions and curiosities. The questions they have will guide your lessons to exploring and researching the answers and promotes independent inquiry in your students.

Problem Solving

Problem solving in this case refers to the real-world problems your students may be facing or witnessing in their communities or beyond. If you are familiar with the PYP this is where your student led 'Action' comes into play. Social activism and justice can take the center stage in your classroom.

It may require higher level thinking from your students to go beyond themselves and see larger problems in their communities (not just a personal problem like Johnny stealing a block from Susie), however, students of any age are capable of accomplishing this. It is just necessary to give them the tools beforehand.

You can help guide your students by taking field trips to local charities or reading books about global problems. Here you can start to come up with actual solutions your students can create and promote to the community.

Reflection in Real World Contexts

Really focus on real world issues that garner an emotional connection with your students. Authentic Learning is about making learning meaningful and what better way to do so than to focus on your students and things that directly impact them or ignite passion in them? Find books, films, or pictures of children facing challenges or have students share problems they may know about or have faced themselves. Once students become emotionally invested in their learning that's when the learning sticks and continues to grow as they do.

Your Journey Towards Authentic Learning

At this point you may be asking yourself "how do I apply this to my classroom? How do I make learning meaningful and authentic?" It all may seem a bit overwhelming and complicated, but I promise it is a lot simpler than you may think.

Get to Know Your Students

Ask yourself these questions:

Where do my students come from?

What is the family dynamic/socioeconomic status/culture?

What does each student enjoy doing? Reading? Making? Watching? Eating? What beliefs do my students have?

The answers to these questions can be found by talking to your students. Observe them during play. Ask them these questions! Once you have the answers, it is easy to start bringing in material or lessons that make a connection with your students.

Get to Know Your Families

It's just as important to get to know the families of your students, as it is to know your students. Find out the answers to these questions:

I suggest setting up an opportunity at the beginning of the school year for you to get to sit down and talk to the families to get to know them and their children.

Get to Know Your Community

Really find out where your students are coming from especially if you are not from the area or are new to the area. Ask these questions:

What are the demographics?

What is your community known for or proud of?

What are some issues or problems facing your community in general?

Go through and experience your community as if you were one of your students. See it from their perspective.

Get to Know Your School and Yourself

Really take time to reflect on your personal beliefs about learning, about your community or about your students. Take note of what you believe is important and what your teaching philosophy is. Really ask yourself these questions:

What might be some outdated thoughts or practices on learning do I or my school have?

What learning programs are already in place?

How can I change or work with them to make learning more meaningful?

What learning programs already support Authentic Learning?

What might be holding me back from implementing Authentic Learning in my classroom?

Getting to know ourselves as teachers and as people will help us to better connect with our students and make their learning more meaningful.

My aim for this post is for teachers everywhere, in every type of institution, to begin to understand what Authentic Learning is and how to really connect with your classroom to make their experiences and learning truly meaningful to them. Once a child connects to learning on a personal level and can see how it relates to their world, the possibilities for growth are endless. I hope you found something that speaks to you here and that you feel inspired to bring Authentic Learning into your own classrooms.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What Is Authentic Learning and How Do I Use It? - AtlasNext

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
According to the Authentic Learning creator and guru, Steve Revington, Authentic Learning "is real life learning. It is a style of learning that encourages students to create a tangible, useful products to be shared with their world."

# data[].attributes.body
Awesome article from the 90s about authentic learning

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Rich environments for active learning  a definition

# data[].attributes.headline
Authentic Learning in Middle School ELA  Classrooms

# data[].attributes.subject
Authentic Learning in Middle School ELA  Classrooms

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
In modern education, the shift towards real-world learning is more important than ever, and authentic learning is at the forefront of this transformation. It blends traditional classroom learning with real-life experiences, making education more engaging and relevant for students. Through this blog post, we'll explore how authentic learning effectively connects classroom theory with the practicalities of the real world.

What is authentic learning?

Authentic learning is an educational approach where students engage in real-world, meaningful activities that mirror the complexities and interconnectedness of life outside the classroom. This method immerses students in deeper learning experiences that are rooted in practicality and relevance.

At its core, authentic learning involves tackling problems or projects that demand creativity, critical thinking, and active participation. It's about stepping beyond the theoretical and textbook scenarios and diving into tasks that resonate with the world students live in and will eventually work in. This approach not only ignites a student's curiosity but also enhances their ability to apply what they learn in tangible, impactful ways.

Authentic learning also emphasizes the importance of reflection and self-evaluation. Students are encouraged to contemplate their learning journey, understand their strengths and areas for improvement, and adapt accordingly. This nurtures a sense of self-awareness and responsibility towards their own learning process.

Furthermore, authentic learning often involves collaborative efforts, mirroring the teamwork and communication skills vital in most professional and personal scenarios. By working with others, students learn to negotiate, share ideas, and value diverse perspectives.

What are some examples of authentic learning?

Authentic learning opportunities range from project-based learning assignments to internships to community involvement projects. Whenever students are using real-world problem solving skills, simulating professional scenarios, or accumulating work experience, they are practicing authentic learning.

In this blog post, I've brought together some of your favourite teacher-authors to share 8 real-world learning activities with you!

1. Classroom Mock Trials for Authentic Learning

A mock trial is a simulated legal proceeding designed to mimic the format and procedures of an actual trial in a courtroom setting. Typically used as an educational tool, a mock trial involves students taking on roles such as attorneys, witnesses, and a judge to explore and analyze legal issues, practice courtroom skills, and engage in critical thinking.

Classroom mock trials can be based on a real case or a fictional scenario. In the English classroom, mock trials provide a fantastic project-based learning opportunity for several short stories and novels. Mock trials also allow individuals to understand the workings of the legal system, develop advocacy skills, and gain insights into the complexities of legal proceedings.

One of the incredible features about classroom mock trials is that they naturally lend to differentiated instruction. With so many mock trial roles to explore, you can find the perfect assignment to accommodate and include every student in your classroom.

To learn more about facilitating a mock trial in your classroom, check out this !

2. UN Global Goals Mini-Project

This authentic learning opportunity is all about overcoming the world's challenges.

As all great teachers know, building bridges for students between the classroom and the real world is essential to meaningful learning. And has a profound way to do it: she has her students dig into the while sharpening their researching chops.

To launch the unit, Natayle starts with a simple task: watch the first 20 minutes of Wall-E. She has students jot down all the questions that pop up while they watch. This gets the kids thinking about everything from the environment to social responsibility, AKA a journey into critical inquiry.

Linking Wall-E's story to the real world, Natayle hosts an eye-opening gallery walk to introduce students to the United Nation's 17 Global Goals . After exploring all of the goals, each student chooses a goal for their research project. Whether they look into the realities of world hunger or understand the importance of access to clean water and healthcare, they get a real world perspective on pressing issues.

The best part? This project isn't just about checking off a few writing standards. Natayle's students really get exposure to huge global issues, sparking more conversations about the world we live in and the changes we all need to make to overcome major challenges. Talk about "real world" learning!

3. Authentic Learning for "Coffee and Donuts" Current Events

Language arts classrooms oftentimes make space for sustained silent reading or comfy independent reading time, but what about switching that time for checking in with current events?

from does just that, and she calls this authentic learning opportunity "Coffee and Donuts" time. The coffee is optional, but the is actually what is centre-stage! If you haven't checked it out yet, it's about time you started reading your daily Donut : a newsletter-style email with multiple perspectives about current events.

For a few selected weeks, Amanda has students replace their quiet novel reading time with time to browse through the latest issues of . She details her whole plan and even has a free handout to use with students on her blog right !

4. Examining Media Bias

Like Amanda, from loves to include current events in her classroom and to use the Donut! Throughout the year, students read the news in online newsletters, websites, and even old-fashioned print versions! To complement these activities, Lesa incorporates key lessons about the structure and content of media, including the presence of bias.

Being more media literate is integral in this day and age of fake news, clickbait, and rumor-turned-breaking news. Spending some time focused on a variation of the 5Ws can help students investigate the reliability of news:

Who is telling the story?

What message is being 'pushed' in the article?

Where does the article appear - which publication? (Using this AdFontes media chart can help with some interpretation.)

When was this published? Is the timing relevant? Is it super close to an event's ending that doesn't allow much time for interpretation? Is it placed at a time to influence and how so?

Why was this article published?

Looking for a lesson all about media bias? Check out this ready-made resource to walk students through 8 different types of media bias and then apply their knowledge with a news analysis activity.

5. Authentic Learning for Social Justice

from knows that music is a powerful tool for teaching about social justice issues in the classroom. It can help students understand and connect with important issues in a way that is both engaging and memorable. Music can be used to teach about a wide variety of social justice issues, such as racism, sexism, and poverty.

One way to use music in the classroom is to analyze the lyrics of songs that address social justice issues. Students can listen to the song and then discuss the meaning behind the lyrics. They can examine the language used in the song and how it contributes to the message. This can help students develop critical thinking skills and become more aware of the issues around them.

Another way to use music is to have students create their own songs that address social justice issues. This can be a fun and creative way for students to express their ideas and opinions. They can work in groups or individually to write lyrics and compose music that reflects their understanding of the issue.

Music can also be used to inspire action. Students can listen to songs that address social justice issues and then brainstorm ways to take action and make a positive change in their community. This can help students feel empowered and motivated to make a difference in the world.

If you want to include music with a social message in your classroom but aren't sure where to start, check out Songs for Social Change for links to 60 socially-minded music videos and accompanying discussion questions. You can also check out this for more ideas!

6. Using Podcasts to Discuss Current Events

Kristy from likes to connect her language arts classroom to the real world by integrating podcast segments into her lessons.

Students benefit from learning about current events and the outside world in a classroom where they can get accurate information from valid sources. Students need explicit lessons on media awareness, bias, perspective and fake news. These can be taught through the use of podcast segments.

Kristy subscribes to a variety of current event podcasts and skims the episode titles to see if any might be of interest and relevant to her students.

Below is a suggest list (not exclusive or exhaustive) of non-fiction podcasts that can be reviewed each week to see if the topics align to your lessons/curriculum.

Podcast Suggestions:

The podcast is a great way to start your class if you are looking for a warm up activity. Each episode is about 6 - 7 minutes long and contains many short segments about current events. At the end of the episode they have a quick comprehension quiz which your students can take. Kristy uses it with her middle school students to keep them informed of interesting student-friendly current events.

If you want to start using podcasts in your classroom, download this free podcast lesson about that you can use with your classes to get them discussing this popular shopping model.

7. Nonfiction Text Activities for Authentic Learning

In today's fast-paced world, students need to be exposed to real-world scenarios that they can relate to. Samantha from is a huge advocate for using nonfiction text in the classroom. Teachers can accomplish this by incorporating nonfiction texts into their curriculum as often as possible. Nonfiction texts provide a wealth of information on current events, scientific discoveries, and historical events.

Pick topics that pair with the text being studied in class. For example, "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller could be paired with an article on cancel culture and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury could be paired with an article on Websites like and provide paired text sets to help you find articles for tons of specific texts.

Samantha has an arsenal of nonfiction texts ready to print and use in your own classroom in her shop. You'll find tons of topics such as haunted places, sports players, biographies of famous historical figures, and more. Click here to see what she has to offer.

Students who study nonfiction texts learn how to analyze information, make informed opinions, and form arguments based on facts. They learn about the world beyond the classroom, and how it affects them. By using nonfiction texts, teachers can empower students to make informed decisions, not only in the classroom but in their daily lives. This ultimately prepares them for success in their future careers and as responsible citizens.

8. Authentic Learning through Theme Connections

One of the greatest beauties of literature is the universal themes that can help students connect, empathize, and see life experiences in new perspectives.

Whether it be in short stories, novels, or poems, themes that can be used to make text-to-text, text-to-self, or text-to-world connections are abundant.

Ana from suggests not only using themes to frame essential questions, but also to drive student discussions, particularly in seminars.

There's a multitude of seminar types, but Ana most enjoys a mix of Socratic and Paideia seminars. She has done several with her own students and created some for her teacher clients as well.

For each seminar, students read a final supplemental text for the unit and complete pre-seminar questions to get them in the right mindset for the following day. Then, the day of seminar, the entire class sits in a leveled circle and the teacher acts as a facilitator, moving the class through questions while they discuss with each other.

Below is an example of seminar questions for a unit where students read several historical texts, watched The Woman King, and Hamilton. Identity and the pursuit of freedom were essential themes.

Notice how several questions relate directly to the content they covered, but other questions connect the themes to broader questions and ideas that help students critically think and connect to themselves and the world.

Here is another example of seminar questions from a mashup unit of Frankenstein and Punching the Air.

Through the lens of universal themes, literature becomes a dynamic tool, empowering students to not only decipher the narratives on paper but to unravel the complexities of their own stories and the big, messy world around them.

If you need help crafting seminars for your units, Ana provides teacher coaching services .

Authentic Learning: Tying it All Together

As we conclude, it's clear that authentic learning is a vital bridge between classroom education and real-world experiences. It not only enriches students' understanding but also prepares them for the practical challenges they'll face outside school walls. Embracing this approach ensures that our teaching remains relevant, engaging, and deeply connected to the real world.

For more authentic learning ideas, check out this blog post on project-based learning opportunities.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Authentic Learning in ELA: 8 Activities for Real-World Learning

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Discover how authentic learning can bring your classroom to life! Explore 8 practical activities for engaging in real-world learning.