EDUC 5313 Week 2 Blog Assignment
PART 1:
Authentic Individual Work (AIW) refers to educational activities and assignments that require students to participate in relevant and meaningful tasks that align with the instructional content of the lesson/class. AIW goes beyond instructional strategies such as memorization and passive learning and encourages children to actively apply their new knowledge and skills to tangible, real-world contexts beyond what they would ordinarily experience int he classroom. By teaching AIW, students become more curious and motivated to learn and develop a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter.
Additionally, AIW goes hand in hand with natural assessment. Written test and memorization-based exams are not a part of AIW. Rather, AIW assessments occur by students demonstrating their knowledge and skills in relevant contexts that they have chosen and contributed too. This type of assessment provides a more comprensive and robust viewpoint of students' cababilities and understanding of the task at hand.
AIW prepares students for life beyond the classroom by guiding students through real-world challanges that are relevant and purposeful to them. These types of activities promote student engagemnt, autonomy, collaboration and problems solving skills.
An important aspect of AIW is student autonomy and agency in the learning process. When students are given the opportunity to have more choices in their projects/work they are more engaged and able to take ownership for their learning. Intrinsic motivation is established and students develop a more robust understanding of the subject matter.
An example of authentic individual work in the music classroom would be a composition project where students are tasked with creating their own original pieces of music. This could be further broken down by music subject/level. For example: 8th grade orchestra members could compose a string quartet. Elementary 4th graders could compose a four bar melody. Students would be given liberty to choose what music software programs they use (ex: garageband), and what instruments to use. This would students ownership and autonomy in their creative process. After their projects are complete, students would give a virtual recital via youtube, google classroom or a class website.
PART 2:
An example of based off of "Learning: Engaging and Empowering Learning Through Technology" could be incorporating project-based learning (PBL) with technological aspects to facilitate AIW. Students could be posed with real-world problems within a certain subject realm, such as sustainable energy methods. They would choose an environment (desert, humid climate, mountain range, etc) and be tasked with findind out what type of stustainable energy production method would be most appropriate. The would be encouraged to use technology tools such as online research databases, data visualization software and interactive platforms to gather information and present their research effectively. They would use these technology platforms to research, communicate, and present their data.
PART 3: The AIW method is similar to Kolb's Triple E framework: Engagement, Enhancement, Extension. The learning activity I designed touches on all three areas, but specifically engagment. By giving students relevant and engaging subject matter,providing choice in specific sub-areas, and giving them interesting and dynamic technology options, students would be engaged and motivated. They would most likely take ownership of their learning and feel a sense of autonomy and personal ownership for their work.
References:
- Newmann, F. M., King, M. B., & Carmichael, D. L. (2007). Authentic instruction and assessment: Common standards for rigor and relevance in teaching academic subjects. State of Iowa Department of Education.
- Kolb, L. (2020). Learning first, technology second in practice. Portland, OR: ISTE.
Hi Charlotte!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your thoughts for this weeks discussion! I think your connection between AIW and assessment is a great point. I know students can often feel that tests are impractical or not a true demonstration of their knowledge. Approaching assessments in contexts that are practical and reflective of real-life skills increases students motivation.
Hi Charlotte! I enjoyed reading your post. You provided a great example of ways that educators can utilize technology to encourage student engagement. Quality student engagement leads to higher student achievement. Per Lawrence Baines (2015), researchers have found that “more engagement results in higher achievement” and “when students’ personal interests are made part of the school program, they do better academically” (Baines, 2015). Employers are finding that engagement is an important factor in establishing and maintaining strong relationships that lead to productivity, profitability and lower employee turnover (Baines, 2015, quoting Yazzie-Mintz, E., 2010).
ReplyDeleteReference:
Baines, Lawrence. (2015, July 31). Student engagement and achievement in language arts. Retrieved June 28, 2023, from https://www.iste.org/explore/Innovator-solutions/Student-engagement-and-achievement-in-language-arts
Hi Charlotte! I agree with you that the AIW framework has intrinsic value for students, but that value requires motivation, application, and fostering for the framework to work. Your lesson plan of allowing students to create their own composition pieces would allow for independent and creative thinking skills, and it would also allow students to share their projects at a recital or showcase. I like how the AIW framework leans into allowing students to think for themselves and find solutions/applications to real world situations. I also like how you mentioned autonomy and motivation, and I agree that both are necessary in order for students to be confident in their own skills.
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ReplyDeleteHi there!
ReplyDeleteIn my experience, the classroom environment often revolves around hands-on activities, particularly in theater, which aligns perfectly with the principles of AIW. Theater promotes collaboration among students and provides them with ample opportunities for engaging in hands-on, project-based learning. While my administration occasionally expresses concerns about testing methods, I believe testing students in this context is actually quite straightforward. I evaluate their understanding through practice-based applied knowledge assessments. Although there may be instances where written exams are suitable, the majority of my students' assessments involve practical demonstrations and active participation.
By focusing on the application of knowledge rather than rote memorization, I create an environment that encourages students to actively learn and develop their skills. Through various theatrical activities, such as rehearsals, performances, and group projects, my students are constantly challenged to apply what they've learned and demonstrate their understanding in real-world scenarios.
Great post!