Authentic learning involves applying knowledge to real-world contexts and situations through activities like role-playing exercises, problem-based activities, case studies, and virtual communities. It has four key themes: involving real-world problems and presenting findings to outside audiences; using open-ended inquiry, thinking skills, and metacognition; engaging in social learning and discourse within a community; and allowing students to direct their own learning during project work. Authentic learning also incorporates elements like relevance to the real world, ill-defined problems, sustained investigation, multiple perspectives and sources, collaboration, reflection, interdisciplinary views, integrated assessment, polished final products, and multiple possible outcomes or interpretations.

1. Authentic Learning
By
Brooke Kersey (Ford)

2. What is Authentic Learning?
 “Authentic learning is a relatively new term that
describes learning through applying knowledge in real-
life contexts and situations.” (Rule, 2006)
 “Authentic learning typically focuses on real-world,
complex problems and their solutions, using role-
playing exercises, problem-based activities, case
studies, and participation in virtual communities of
practice.” (Lombardi, 2007)

3. The Four Themes of Authentic Learning
According to Rule, 2006
 “An activity that involves real-world problems and that
mimics the work of professionals: the activity involves
presentation of findings to audiences beyond classroom.”
 “Use of open-ended inquiry, thinking skills and
metacognition.”
 “Students engage in discourse and social learning in a
community of learners.”
 “Students direct their own learning in project work.”

4. Authentic Learning for the 21st Century by
Lombardi
 “Learning by doing”
 “Learning researchers have distilled the essence of the authentic
learning experience down to 10 design elements:
 Real-world relevance
 Ill defined problem
 Sustained Investigation
 Multiple sources and perspectives
 Collaboration
 Reflection (metacognition)
 Interdisciplinary perspective
 Integrated assessment
 Polished products
 Multiple interpretations and outcomes”

5. Authentic Learning for the 21st
Century by Lombardi
 “Technological support for today’s authentic learning
environments commonly includes:
 High-speed Internet connectivity for provision of
multimedia information
 Asynchronous and synchronous communication and
social networking tools for the support of teamwork
 Intelligent tutoring systems, virtual laboratories, and
feedback mechanisms
 Mobile devices for accessing and inputting data during
field-based investigations

6. What makes authentic learning
effective? (Lombardi, 2007)
 “Three principles illustrate the alignment
between learning research and authentic
learning:
 Learners look for connections
 Long-lived attachments come with practice
 New contexts need to be explored”

7. Authentic
Learning
What does it look
like?

8. References
 Lombardi, M. (2007). Authentic Learning for the 21st Century: An Overview. Educause Learning
Initiative. Retrieved from https://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI3009.pdf.
 Rule, A. (2006). Editorial: The Components of Authentic Learning. Journal of Authentic Learning.
Retrieved from
https://dspace.sunyconnect.suny.edu/bitstream/handle/1951/35263/editorial_rule.pdf?sequence=1.
 Mims, C. (2003). Authentic Learning:
A Practical Introduction & Guide for Implementation. Meridian: A Middle School Computer
Technologies Journal. Retrieved from http://www.ncsu.edu/meridian/win2003/authentic_learning/.
 Brooks, C. (2004). Authentic Learning: Using Puppies to Teach High School Genetics. Retrieved
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