Learning Is Authentic & Connected

Are students listening to their teachers and answering questions that were created for them, and working by themselves to improve test scores

– Or – 

Are students asking questions and exploring solutions to problems that are important to them and their world, while collaborating with peers and community members to contribute toward outcomes that matter?


In Authentic and Connected learning experiences, learners ask questions and explore solutions to problems that are important to them and their world. They work with peers and members in their communities to contribute toward outcomes that matter.

Design Principles

Authentic and Connected learning experiences motivate learners to engage with real-world issues that are relevant to their learning.

  • How does the learning experience extend beyond academic disciplines and into authentic context?
  • What is the learner’s level of responsibility for designing the process to complete learning tasks?
  • To what extent do products address a real-world problem for an authentic audience?
  • How are assessment, feedback, and reflection embedded within learning experiences?

Video: What is Blended Learning?

Anytime, Anywhere Playlist

Authentic & Connected Context

ABOUT:

Inquiry (videos)

EXAMPLES:

Buck Institute Project SearchSearch by content area at first but find projects that are cross-curricular and leveled for the beginner to the advanced.

Daily CreateA space for regular practice of spontaneous creativity through challenges published every day.

Engineering Everywhere – Twelve units developed by Engineering Is Elementary with fun, hands-on activities based on real-world engineering challenges.

eGFI (Engineering, Go For It!) – Lessons and resources curated by the American Society for Engineering Education.

Maker Education – A collection of ideas for bringing maker-infused learning experiences into the classroom.

MathScienceMusic – A free toolkit for teachers, bringing together the best resources in math, science, and music.

NatureWorks Everywhere –  Interactive lesson plans that give teachers, students and families everything they need to start exploring and understanding nature around the globe alongside Nature Conservancy scientists.

Open Educational Resources (OER) Commons  – A public digital library of open educational resources.

Workbench Education – Access a collection of sample projects organized by grade level and subject area of focus.

Authentic & Connected Context
  • Design for ChangeEncourage your students to articulate their own ideas for a better world and to put them into action using this one week format.
  • ISKME’s STEAM Design ChallengeTeachers engage in a problem-based process to design a prototype for an arts integration student project (SLANT Summer Institute, San Francisco Unified School District).
  • Contemporary Quest Model – A resource created by Heidi Hayes Jacobs and Marie Hubley Adcock in their ASCD book Bold Moves for identifying the scope and scale of a STEAM learning experience.
  • Education ClosetA defined process to create your STEAM Lesson.  (Folder from June 21st PD)
  • BIE Driving Question Tubric – This tool can help students and teachers alike write Driving Questions by framing initial words, person or entity, action or challenge, and audience/purpose.

Authentic & Connected

Quality Character

Authentic and Connected Learning promotes engagement in tasks within a real-world context that requires perseverance, adaptability, and accountability toward a meaningful goal.

Authentic & Connected

Global Citizen

Authentic and Connected Learning promotes engagement in tasks within a real-world context that requires a contribution to the needs of a broader community beyond the classroom or school.

Authentic & Connected

Communicator

Authentic and Connected Learning promotes engagement in tasks within a real-world context that require public products and authentic audiences to communicate understanding.

Authentic & Connected

Collaborator

Authentic and Connected Learning promotes engagement in tasks within a real-world context that require student and community teams, with each team member playing a key role.

Authentic & Connected

Critical Thinker

Authentic and Connected Learning promotes engagement in tasks within a real-world context that require analysis and synthesis of competing ideas drawn from a variety of sources.

Authentic & Connected

Creative Thinker

Authentic and Connected Learning promotes engagement in tasks within a real-world context that require the development and refinement of tangible solutions to real-world challenges.