Imagine a classroom where: students explore, discuss, and meaningfully construct concepts and relationships in contexts that involve real-world situations that are relevant to the learner learning is focused on connecting what students are taught to real-world issues, problems, and applications e ducation is more student centered learning is an active process students are provided opportunities to construct their own knowledge through self-directed inquiry, problem solving, critical thinking, and reflections in real-world contexts Sounds like an educational utopia, doesn’t it? Nope, it’s just authentic learning. Where students are more likely to be interested in what they are learning, more motivated to learn new concepts and skills, and better prepared to succeed in their lives outside of school. So, why does it seem as if classroom teachers are at odds with school leaders about making authentic learning (i.e.-situated cog...
