Top 10 Authentic Learning Assessments & Activities for Online

Audience Level: 
All
Session Time Slot(s): 
Institutional Level: 
Higher Ed
Abstract: 

Help students make the connection between the knowledge taught in class and real-world issues, experiments, applications, and problems by designing and incorporating authentic learning in your online classroom.  This active engagement session paints a picture of what authentic learning looks like in the online environment, design elements, and ways to effectively incorporate this strategy into your teaching.

Extended Abstract: 

Authentic learning occurs when educators provide meaningful opportunities and appropriate support for all students to engage in self-directed inquiry, problem solving, critical thinking and reflection in real world and creative contexts.  (State University of New York at Oswego School of Education Conceptual Framework, 1998)

Authentic Learning in the online classroom helps the students make the connection between the knowledge taught and real-world issues, experiments, applications, and problems.  This active engagement session paints a picture of what authentic learning looks like in the online environment, design elements, and ways this to effectively incorporate this strategy into your teaching.

At the end of this session participants will be able to:

  • Describe authentic learning
  • Give examples of online authentic learning activities

Authentic learning in online classrooms provides the opportunity to utilize technology in the design and creation of truly innovative authentic learning environments.  Throughout this presentation we will unpack how authentic learning incorporates a wide variety of educational and instructional techniques focused on connecting what students are taught to real-world issues, problems, and applications.   Authentic Learning improves student engagement by moving from one-way transfer of information to learner-centered methods with a variety of activities, opportunities for collaboration, and team problem solving. 

To keep this session engaging these seasoned presenters will reveal and discuss their “Top 10” list online authentic learning activities and assessments.  Participants will receive the printed and online link to the UNMC infographic, “Ten Design Elements of Authentic Learning”.  https://connected.unmc.edu/authentic-learning/ adapted from Lombardi, M. (2007). Authentic learning for the 21st century: An overview. EduCause Learning Initiative. ELI Paper 1:2007

For active engagement in this session participants will use an online polling app to respond and rate each strategy presented on how likely they are to try to implement the strategy.  Rating scale for polling:   1)  No way!  2) Maybe. 3)  Very likely.  Presenters will facilitate whole group discussion about the benefits, logistics, or challenges with each instructional approach. 

Conference Session: 
Concurrent Session 4
Conference Track: 
Teaching and Learning Effectiveness
Session Type: 
Education Session
Intended Audience: 
Design Thinkers
Faculty
Instructional Support
Training Professionals