The Wonderful Journey of Authentic Learning ...
What is authentic learning? By Steve Revington
Authentic learning is learning by doing. Authentic learning is applied learning and it engages all the student's senses to produce a tangible product to share in their community. Please visit www.authenticlearning.weebly.com for a comprehensive explanation, the elements that make up authentic learning and examples of this model of education.
Authentic learning is learning by doing. Authentic learning is applied learning and it engages all the student's senses to produce a tangible product to share in their community. Please visit www.authenticlearning.weebly.com for a comprehensive explanation, the elements that make up authentic learning and examples of this model of education.
I have been designing, implementing and promoting this model of education for thirty years. Recently, I was fortunate enough to be selected as one of the top fifty educators for The Global Teacher Prize. My work in Authentic Learning was a large part of this selection. I am pleased to announce an information night is planned for parents of students participating in our upcoming Ancient Roman Living Museum on Tuesday April 14 at 7:00 pm. I will be sharing the impacts of authentic learning on students, give examples and field questions regarding the upcoming project to support your child's experience.
A PARENT GUIDE: The Ancient Roman Market Living Museum
Authentic Event: The Ancient Roman Living Museum
Our class has started learning about Ancient Rome. Each lesson, activity and independent study will lead your child towards transforming themselves into ancient Roman citizens that will participate in our Ancient Roman Living Market Museum. Our student and class goal is to create a market to showcase the authentic trade characters (plebeians), costumes, projects and market stalls of trades people in the Roman city of Londinium in the province of Britannia (England, Wales).
To do this successfully we will need the support of our parents and the school community. During instructional times, students will be introduced to Roman history, simple Latin, lifestyles of Roman citizens, their government, technology, art, leisure, calendars, timelines, Roman numerals, food and fashion. The students will complete and maintain their notes, which will be bound into Ancient Roman Booklets.
On May 16th and 17th the students will present their projects and or tools, as ancient Roman trades people at our class open house, called The Ancient Roman Living Museum. They will act, work as they did in the day at their Roman market stalls. This event attracts hundreds of visitors and showcases the student's work as they reenact characters from the ancient Roman times. This year will be a very special year as Mr. Buchwald's grade fours will be opening their doors to display their Medieval productions.
Ancient Roman Living Museum Project Letter
THE PROJECT & EXPECTATIONS
Create A Roman Citizen's (trade person) Costume - authentic looking costume with a Latin name (e.g. Livius, Maximus), lineage and personality to match. Students can find costume, footwear and accessory ideas on the links provided below. Please be prepared to bring in costumes and a projects for Monday May 16. This day we'll take photos of the students on the green screen, then Mr. Revington will change the backgrounds to Roman scenes to be displayed in our school halls and in our units end media presentation.
An Authentic Product and/or Tool - a tool, a project or both needs to be completed by the student. This project should reflect an authentic tool or product that their Roman character would have used or made. These projects will be displayed in the forum of Londinium at their market stalls. Students, with the guidance of their parents, are encouraged to seek professional consultation or receive instruction on their project's creation to make their learning experience as authentic as possible. e.g. a student choosing to be a blacksmith by trade may visit a "real" blacksmith or farrier to learn some trade skills and create a blacksmith product under their direction. A student choosing to be a Roman potter may choose to make an amphora at a skilled potter's workshop using a real kiln. The more authentic the experience, the more the memory and learning skills "stick". Please contact Mr. Revington early in your student's planning if you need clarification or assistance.
Take Photos of the Authentic Skill Experience - the students are encouraged to make their creations as "real" as possible. A student choosing to be a potter may want to visit a real pottery making class or a hobbyist who makes authentic pottery. Take five to ten photos of students when they are engaged in this memorable experience Develop the photos so they can be displayed in our historic photo books (4X6) to show our market visitors. Some people can't believe that grade fours can do these amazing things. Mr. Revington will provide the booklets and pages. Please just bring the 4X6 photos.
Market stall decor for their desk - the students are to cover, decorate their desk as authentic looking market stalls. They are to include a Latin symbol or name of their profession to advertise their trade stall. Be sure to bring safety pins or fasteners to efficiently assemble the market stall on open house day. Helpful Hint: Tape does not do well on cloth while safety pins work great.
Portfolio/Booklet - students have had a great start learning about life in ancient Rome and this will continue until the project's end, shortly after the open house. Student's are given sufficient time in class to complete all readings and activity sheets but they are reminded to not wrinkle their papers and to complete each sheet with detail. These papers are kept in order in their black, Social Studies duo-tangs. It is a portfolio of all the student's learning.
Roman Trivia Board Game & Unit End Test: The students will celebrate the end of this unit by having an Ancient Roman board game session during class. The students will review the unit's content while celebrating their accomplishments. Soon after the student's will complete a test on this unit. Criteria for the test will be available online, as all tests and assignments are.
THE CLASSROOM: An Ancient Roman Living Market Forum
The student desks will be arranged to resemble a market in a Roman forum and the students will be the trades people working and sharing their wares. Students are to present a trade/profession persona by creating an authentic costume, an authentic looking product, a market stall covering with guild crest and act in 'Roman citizen persona' for this presentation. NOTE: There is no written information or display boards needed for this project. In class, students will continue to complete work sheets that are directly related that will support them in preparing for their roles. These will be kept in their Ancient Roman green unit folders to be spiral bound at the unit's end. For extra protection students were instructed to place their papers in their hard covered, gray writing folders.
Our room will be decorated with murals, mosaics and student art that will reflect the theme. Students who have completed their daily work will have the opportunity of working on these creative additions.
DRAMA: Becoming An Ancient Roman Trade Persona
We will spend a good amount of class time organizing and preparing the students for their dramatic roles as ancient Roman characters ('personas'). The students will line the sides of our forum pretending to sell their wares and services during the presentation. Visitors will walk the streets and ask questions to the student actors who will remain in 'persona' (character). We are invite other classes to visit this day and expect close to close to seven hundred visitors.
PLEASE NOTE: There are no display boards, written sheets or booklets that need to be done other than those handed out in class. As discussed with the kids, it's like a reenactment, and they are dressing up as authentic Roman trades people.
ASSESSMENT: Students will be assessed on their authentic costume, their project/tool workmanship, dramatic role, market stall, all as an authentic ancient Roman trades people. The student's portfolio (Ancient Roman booklet with all activity sheets) will also be assessed and a unit test will be assigned.
The student desks will be arranged to resemble a market in a Roman forum and the students will be the trades people working and sharing their wares. Students are to present a trade/profession persona by creating an authentic costume, an authentic looking product, a market stall covering with guild crest and act in 'Roman citizen persona' for this presentation. NOTE: There is no written information or display boards needed for this project. In class, students will continue to complete work sheets that are directly related that will support them in preparing for their roles. These will be kept in their Ancient Roman green unit folders to be spiral bound at the unit's end. For extra protection students were instructed to place their papers in their hard covered, gray writing folders.
Our room will be decorated with murals, mosaics and student art that will reflect the theme. Students who have completed their daily work will have the opportunity of working on these creative additions.
DRAMA: Becoming An Ancient Roman Trade Persona
We will spend a good amount of class time organizing and preparing the students for their dramatic roles as ancient Roman characters ('personas'). The students will line the sides of our forum pretending to sell their wares and services during the presentation. Visitors will walk the streets and ask questions to the student actors who will remain in 'persona' (character). We are invite other classes to visit this day and expect close to close to seven hundred visitors.
PLEASE NOTE: There are no display boards, written sheets or booklets that need to be done other than those handed out in class. As discussed with the kids, it's like a reenactment, and they are dressing up as authentic Roman trades people.
ASSESSMENT: Students will be assessed on their authentic costume, their project/tool workmanship, dramatic role, market stall, all as an authentic ancient Roman trades people. The student's portfolio (Ancient Roman booklet with all activity sheets) will also be assessed and a unit test will be assigned.
authentic_assessment.pdf | |
File Size: | 196 kb |
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Excellent examples of students as authentic trades people with their products
The Project's Time Frame
Assignment Note: Here is a brief timelin you and your child can follow to experience a comfortable, successful learning journey. Daily reminders at school will happen, at least twice a day, and a we'll be following a class calendar on the SmartBoard which includes the dates stated below. Please encourage your child to ask questions, get clarification and feel free to email me with any questions you may have. Please note, flexibility is required by students, parents and teacher. The great thing about authentic learning is that it's real, warts and all! The schedule below is only a suggested guideline and project expectations may overlap. Parents: also remember that learning is done mainly by modeling, if you're experiencing the joy of learning, they will too. Likewise for anxiety.
IMPORTANT: As in real life, true success comes with appropriate preparation, good resource hunting and a realistic planning time.
March 21 - The Ancient Roman Studies unit begins
Thursday April 14 @ 4:30 pm. PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT - Understanding Authentic Learning
April 21 to 25 - Discuss and conference with Mr. Revington about what project ideas, professional expertise contacts and skilled trade choices the students have chosen. A conference organizer sheet will be provided. If students have difficulty locating a consultant or important resources please feel free to contact me regarding a possible trade change. It's not advised to leave it too late however.
Contact an expert on the skilled trade and schedule a project session to construct a tool and/or product.
e.g. pottery maker = potter, Roman candle maker = local candle maker, toy maker = carpenter
Please email Mr. Revington if you're having difficulty.
April 26 to May 10 - Create an authentic ancient Roman trades person product or tool and complete an authentic looking trades person costume. Tunic, sandals, money purse or amulet are very common. Samples of tunics will be given to your child. Please note additional homework will be limited to provide ample time for students to prepare.
May 10 to May 16 - Final details and complete a market stall. (students will measure their desks and record their measurements in their notes)
Monday May 16 - students should bring in their costumes & projects
Tuesday May 17 - Ancient Roman Living Museum
1:00 pm to 3:00 pm - Oakridge High School History students & Althouse College student teacher visitors welcome
Wednesday May 18 - Ancient Roman Living Museum
11:05 to 11:45 am, 1:00 to 3:15 pm - class visits
3:45 to 5:00 pm - community, family & friends visit
IMPORTANT: As in real life, true success comes with appropriate preparation, good resource hunting and a realistic planning time.
March 21 - The Ancient Roman Studies unit begins
Thursday April 14 @ 4:30 pm. PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT - Understanding Authentic Learning
April 21 to 25 - Discuss and conference with Mr. Revington about what project ideas, professional expertise contacts and skilled trade choices the students have chosen. A conference organizer sheet will be provided. If students have difficulty locating a consultant or important resources please feel free to contact me regarding a possible trade change. It's not advised to leave it too late however.
Contact an expert on the skilled trade and schedule a project session to construct a tool and/or product.
e.g. pottery maker = potter, Roman candle maker = local candle maker, toy maker = carpenter
Please email Mr. Revington if you're having difficulty.
April 26 to May 10 - Create an authentic ancient Roman trades person product or tool and complete an authentic looking trades person costume. Tunic, sandals, money purse or amulet are very common. Samples of tunics will be given to your child. Please note additional homework will be limited to provide ample time for students to prepare.
May 10 to May 16 - Final details and complete a market stall. (students will measure their desks and record their measurements in their notes)
Monday May 16 - students should bring in their costumes & projects
Tuesday May 17 - Ancient Roman Living Museum
1:00 pm to 3:00 pm - Oakridge High School History students & Althouse College student teacher visitors welcome
Wednesday May 18 - Ancient Roman Living Museum
11:05 to 11:45 am, 1:00 to 3:15 pm - class visits
3:45 to 5:00 pm - community, family & friends visit