Reflection #9

(1) Describe the Resource / Experience:
During my resource search this week, I discovered an article entitled “Authentic Learning: A Practical Introduction and Guide for Implementation”. This article was originally published in a journal entitled Meridian: A Middle School Computer Technologies Journal. This article defines authentic learning and discusses the key characteristics of an authentic learning instructional approach.
(2) Lessons Learned / Applications for the Classroom / Recommendations for Yourself or Others:
I have learned that many experts believe that learning should be embedded into real, authentic life experiences. I’ve learned that learners should be given the opportunity to learn by being presented with real world problems that need to be solved. Therefore, as for classroom applications, I have learned that I need to try to incorporate some authentic learning experiences into my classroom instruction. However, since I’m not very well-versed in the practice of using authentic learning, I have also discovered that I will need to do more research in order to accomplish this task. After completing this WikiText chapter, I hope that I will have a better and more thorough understanding of authentic learning, and I hope I’ll be able to construct some effective authentic learning experiences/opportunities for the students in my classroom.
(3) Links to Readings, Resources, or Discussions:
These ideas directly link to the following resource from my Resource Log:

North Carolina State University. (2003, Winter). Authentic learning: A practical introduction and guide for implementation. Meridian: A Middle School Computer Technologies Journal. 6(1). Retrieved from http://www.ncsu.edu/meridian/win2003/authentic_learning/

Since this article focuses on “learning by doing”, I think the ideas expressed in this article are closely aligned with the research we have been reading and studying about constructivism. This article asserts that learning should be seamlessly embedded into real world situations that allow learners to effectively and meaningfully connect new concepts to prior knowledge/learning. These are some of the same concepts that we have discovered are associated with constructivist learning environments.