Resource Log 16

The Council for Exceptional Children's take on Authentic Learning!

This is another article about authentic learning. It gives another good description of what this types of learning is. It also gives teachers ideas on how they can change there lessons to make a better learning environment. It doesn't really apply technology but I sure most creative teachers could come up with some ways to incorporate it anyway.


Council for Exceptional Children. (2007). Authentic Learning. Retrieved February 18, 2009, from http://www.cec.sped.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Experiential_Learning&Template=/TaggedPage/ TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=24&ContentID=4697

Reflection Journal 7

This past week I have been investigating what authentic learning is. I have found a few very interesting articles about what it is and how I should be incorporating it into my classroom. I have always felt learning by doing is the best way for students to really understand learning objectives. I myself did not always learn much by just having a teacher tell me about a subject. I needed to have a hands on learning experience to fully understand course material. This is why I chose to teach in the Applied Technology department at my school. Most of my lessons are paired up with some type of experiment or real world application. This semester my Culinary Arts students are hosting a catering event for teachers in my building. It will be set up just like an event in a restaurant or banquet. They have many different jobs and they also will have to figure food costs and see if we make a profit. They all like to make food but we are teaching them how to use their experience with food as a possible career path. It is very cool and I am excited for them.

Resource Log 15

Authentic Learning for the 21st Century!!!

This journal article gives great information of what authentic learning is. It also is a really good article because it discusses ways to incorporate technology into the learning process. Is is a great article. I can't post it in my chapter 3 sandbox but I do want to use the some of the information for our wiki book. If you are participating in the chapter 3 wiki please take a look.


Lombardi, M. M. (2007, March). Authentic Learning for the 21st Century. Educause Learning Initiative. Retrieved February 13, 2007, from Educause Web site: http://net.educause.edu/ir/ library/pdf/ELI3009.pdf

Resource Log 14

Real-world learning in a virtual environment

A former North Carolina Technology & Learning Teacher of the Year talks about how she worked with the North Carolina Zoo to get students excited about learning.

Walbert, D. (n.d.). Real-world learning in a virtual environment. In Learn NC. Retrieved February 11, 2009, from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Web site: http://www.learnnc.org/lp/ pages/802

Resource Log 13

Real World Learning with the Hybrid Model

This is an interesting article about the concept of real world leaning. It gives a great summary.

Spilka, R. (2002, March 20). Approximately "Real World" Learning with the Hybrid Model. Teaching with Technology Today, 8(6). Retrieved February 11, 2009, from http://www.uwsa.edu/ttt/articles/ spilka.htm

Reflections Journal 6

Student Centered Learning

After spending time reading through different theorists and getting a better idea of what constructivism is I am ready to apply it to my lessons. I feel I do already use a lot of student centered learning activities but many of them do not include technology. I have thought about how I can change my class while using the same curriculum. My students usually fill out journal after hands on cooking lab. They will usually have a few refection questions to answer. I think I am going to transform this into a class blog for the students to talk about the labs. I would like to use a program where each student could set up their own blog like the one we have in this class. Are there any suggestions for other blog sites teachers are using? I need something that I can have a lot of control over. Another idea I have is creating a recipe quest for my students. I want my students to be able to find good recipes to use in our class that apply the concepts we are learning in the chapter.
I know students really enjoy using the computer labs at school and are often more likely to be engaged in an assignment if we use computers. The only problem is we are only allowed to use the computer labs so many times a quarter. I am concerned about getting the students to comment on blogs as a homework assignment because some of my students do not have a computer or the internet. I think I may try the blog assignment as an extra credit opportunity to get it started.

Resource Log 13

Constructivist Design Conference

After watching a clip on teacher centered learning I looked for some videos on Student Centered Learning. I came across this short video on the Constructivist Design Conference. I thought this type of conference would be a really great staff development opportunity for my school. The conference focuses on having teachers do the same activities they want the teachers take back and use in their own classrooms. I thought it was very interesting.

Mesibov, D. (2008, October 29). Constructivist Design Conference 2007 pt. 1. Message posted to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzzli9P3NLI