Authentic Learning Video Response

Setting Authentic Context in your tasks provides the space for students to grasp the answer to the question "why do I need to learn this?" They are provided with the space to fully investigate the problem that is being posed.

I find that this is where we fall short of giving students truly authentic learning experiences. The tendency seems to be, even in inquiry based programs, to too early in the process, see students struggling and tell them where we want them to go, how to get there and what knowledge they should have gained when they get there, because we have content to get through.

I see that linking with businesses and public services within the community is essential to provide truly authentic learning opportunities. Students need to interact with these groups to come up with solutions to real world problems instead of going on field trips and observing others do it.

One of the strengths of the example project that the video describes is that the Olympic Park Committee sends the students a letter providing the details of the problem and requesting their expert assistance. This empowers the students to be involved and interact with the outside public to solve the problem. Teachers tend to set the problem to be solved and the students know that's what it is, a made up problem that they have to work on for school. When someone from the "real world" engages with them, they get the feeling of what they do may have an impact on others.

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