critical thinking in authentic learning

Authentic learning: What is it, and why is it important?

Essentials series

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Fostering self-directed learners with a long-term, deep understanding of concepts is a key goal for educators.

Authentic learning (or active learning) is, per Steve Revington , “real life learning. It is a style of learning that encourages students to create a tangible, useful, quality product/outcome to be shared with their world.”

Connecting what instructors teach to real-world issues and problems is at the core of authentic learning. In other words, authentic learning requires students to engage in meaningful activities and actively think about what it is they are learning . It is the opposite of the passive, teacher-led classroom in which students memorize and then regurgitate what they hear and see.

Authentic learning makes course concepts relevant to students so that they can retain the information at hand and pivot the knowledge to real-world situations. It involves centering students and their ideas while nurturing them along the educational journey through frequent, low-stakes assessments, constructive feedback, as well as assessment design that enables a student-instructor relationship.

Revington continues, “A student sitting at a desk, taking notes and regurgitating curriculum content uses a minute amount of their potential. In general, students learn to sit quietly, respond in turn, follow instructions and complete tests for a control teacher. Without relevance, personal connection, multisensory engagement and purpose, content driven curricula begins [sic] to evaporate once the test has been taken.”

Such mimicry , while a longstanding pedagogical tradition, doesn’t necessarily prepare students for a changing post-industrial world. In a 2018 Quartz article , Allison Schrager writes, “Factory owners required docile, agreeable workers who would show up on time and do what their managers told them. Sitting in a classroom all day with a teacher was good training for that. Early industrialists were instrumental, then, in creating and promoting universal education. Now that we are moving into a new, post-industrial era, it is worth reflecting on how our education evolved to suit factory work, and if this model still makes sense.”

According to 2013 research, “The education landscape has been shifting towards a stronger emphasis on higher-order level of thinking such as creative thinking, critical thinking, and problem solving as research shows that current graduates lack transcending skills like communication skills and problem-solving skills, which are crucial in the industry. The most important skills employers look for when hiring new employees are teamwork, critical thinking, communication...or innovative thinking. However, in many universities, the mode of teaching is still conventional pedagogy and students tend to learn passively particularly when content is taught in a way that causes students to memorize without thinking critically about what they are memorizing…. There is a call for more emphasis to be placed on authentic learning as it provides an environment that cultivates students who would be prepared for the complex working world ” ( Ju, Mai, et al. ).

Education, according to Horace Mann, is the “great equalizer.” Our world has changed—and it is safe to say a prepared student is one with the ability to communicate original ideas. ”An important characteristic of authentic learning is that there are multiple possible outcomes or solutions to a problem rather than a single correct answer. This can encourage students [sic] ask questions and think outside the box” ( Stenger, 2018 ).

Additionally, authentic learning fosters intrinsic motivation , which is to say behavior driven by internal rewards, because the nature of the work itself is satisfying. Extrinsic motivation, on the other hand, involves engagement based on external rewards or to avoid punishment. Among educators’ goals is to foster a love of learning for its own merits—and authentic learning is critical to engendering such intrinsic motivation.

In The Hechinger Report, Tara García Mathewson states, “Inspiring students’ intrinsic motivation to learn is a more effective strategy to get and keep students interested. And it’s more than that. Students actually learn better when motivated this way. They put forth more effort, tackle more challenging tasks, and end up gaining a more profound understanding of the concepts they study .” By learning through hands-on problem-solving, students “tackle open-ended assignments that require sustained effort; they get the power to choose what and how they learn; they finish projects with something to show for their learning in portfolios and concrete products; they set their own academic goals; they need never focus more on a grade than the process of learning.”

• Act as a role model for students , and demonstrate a passion for learning. Ask students to share information about themselves in class or in a letter to the instructor. In other words, provide students with a sense of belonging .
• Use examples so students know how the material can be of use. Provide meaningful reasons for learning activities.
• Communicate clear expectations for each assignment. Provide rubrics and consider co-creating rubrics with students.
• Provide constructive feedback early and often to help students understand next steps in their learning journey. Include positive feedback .
• Offer frequent, low-stakes assessments so students can fail safely and learn from their mistakes.
• Uphold fair assessment. Avoid grading on a curve, so students feel they have the opportunity to achieve the highest standards.
• Give students control over their learning . Give them opportunities to choose their own topics or reading lists and provide a variety of assessment formats, so they have control over how they demonstrate their understanding

Educators want the best outcomes for their students in an evolving world. If education is the foundation for positive change, then pedagogy, it goes to follow, has to model the world we want to see. Authentic learning centers student needs and in doing so, fosters original thinking and original ideas, while supporting the entire educational journey.

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Authentic Learning: Bringing Real-World Relevance to the Classroom

Authentic learning involves focusing on connecting what students learn in the classroom to how they can apply these skills in real-life situations at home, at work, and in solving everyday problems. It’s also a way to foster passion in students, so they can experience a more meaningful learning experience and create a pathway toward the future.

There are many ways to engage students in authentic learning experiences, through additional resources, films, books, pictures, and learning how to work through challenges faced in common situations. Teachers can share everyday, relatable experiences that help students apply what they learn in the classroom to other aspects of their lives.

What Makes the Learning Process Authentic?

When you compare traditional teaching methods with authentic learning, there’s a more hands-on approach to student learning in a more authentic way. It’s a learning environment that involves authentic experiences, relating coursework to practical knowledge, and developing skills for the real world. There are a number of characteristics involved in authentic student learning that support and prepare students for benefits beyond the classroom.

A Focus on Developing Critical Thinking Skills

When students are encouraged to think through problems to reach a solution or are guided by their individual or collective curiosities, they develop more effective critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

In authentic learning environments, students contribute to the direction of learning in the classroom, which means they are more motivated to explore and research answers to their questions and find solutions more independently.

This type of learning, also known as inquiry-based learning, gives students a chance to naturally learn and acquire knowledge in the classroom and outside of it. Essentially, it creates an authentic learning experience that promotes learning as a more enjoyable, exciting way to absorb and understand information while applying it in the real world.

Greater Problem-Solving Tools

Students better equipped to handle real-life situations develop more vital problem-solving skills. When students learn how to resolve conflict in their communities or handle difficult situations in a new, more effective way, this can lead to positive action later in life, including taking on a significant role in activism and supporting positive change.

The classroom is a great way to create awareness of real-world events, concerns, and situations that empower students to take action, in their way, within their communities.

Problem-solving is vital for everyday tasks and challenges, and can help students prepare for work and higher education. This higher level of thinking can allow students to make small but meaningful improvements at home and within society as they develop these tools and learn more about the world around them.

Brainstorming solutions and strategies in the classroom can ignite this process and give students a chance to test and develop their skills in communication and achieving goals.

Creating Active Learning Experiences

Project-based learning often takes the form of active learning, where students learn outside of the classroom, with teacher direction. This process may involve a field trip, a visit to a community center, a government building, or common areas that involve exploring, observing, and, later, discussion in school. Active learning is about helping students learn about the world around them, which promotes continued learning after class and outside of school.

Extracurricular groups of interest promote greater active learning opportunities, either through art, sports, the environment, and critical social issues. These groups are often student-led, allowing students to develop leadership skills they can apply in real life.

Consideration for Real-World Events

Many students benefit from relating what they learn from teachers and peers to what’s happening in the world, whether it’s the latest breaking news, community events, and other developments. Teachers often discover that students develop different perspectives and ideas and take a keener interest in real world issues.

These real-world problems are ideal for exploring through film, books, and realistic scenarios, which help engage students and help them become emotionally invested in their education, and the world they live in.

Engaging Students in the Authentic Learning Experience

Student skills develop through an authentic context, where kids are engaged to learn by creating a connection between what they learn in the classroom, its value, and how to apply it in the real world .

There are many fun, helpful activities that teachers can use to engage students in authentic learning, such as the following:

• Find real examples and consider how they can be recreated or used as an example in the classroom.
• Ask students about their interests, background, culture, and other characteristics.
• Engage students in discussions about current events and how they would react in a specific situation.
• Incorporate real-life experiences into artwork, writing assignments, and other course materials as a great way to get students interested in expressing their views and ideas.
• Observe how students interact with each other and how they react to various topics to determine where more authentic learning can benefit their needs.

When teachers meet with parents, they can better understand their student’s life at home, how they live, their culture, background, and other factors that contribute to their learning experience.

It’s always important to ask questions of both students and teachers to get a better idea of what they enjoy reading, watching, and playing so that these themes can be integrated into the classroom for a more enhanced learning experience.

Authentic learning is a powerful way to engage students in the classroom while providing connections to their world through solving real-life problems. Students learn how to find solutions on their own and by working together as a team. The great advantage of the authentic learning experience is that there are many ways to incorporate real-life scenarios, interests, and experiences into classroom learning.

This approach supports traditional learning methods while helping students bridge research and what they learn on their own to a more enhanced way of learning in the classroom and beyond. Students are stimulated to customize what they learn and how they learn based on how they interact with the real world, which is more effective for greater learning outcomes.

If your school is interested in new ways to improve the learning experience for children, you may also be interested in automating tasks and streamlining processes so that your teachers have more time to teach. Education Advanced offers a large suite of tools that may be able to help. For example, three of our most popular and effective tools are:

Suppose your school is interested in new ways to improve the learning experience for children. In that case, you may also be interested in automating tasks and streamlining processes, so your teachers have more time to teach. Education Advanced offers an extensive suite of tools that may be able to help. For example, three of our most popular and effective tools are:

• Cardonex, our master schedule software , helps schools save time on building master schedules. Many schools used to spend weeks using whiteboards to organize the right students, teachers, and classrooms into the right order so that students could graduate on time and get their preferred classes. However, Cardonex can now be used to automate this task and deliver 90% of students' first-choice classes within a couple of days.
• Testhound, our test accommodation software , helps schools coordinate thousands of students across all state and local K-12 school assessments while taking into account dozens of accommodations (reading disabilities, physical disabilities, translations, etc.) for students.
• Pathways, our college and career readiness software , helps administrators and counselors create, track, and analyze graduation pathways to ensure secondary students are on track to graduate.
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Authentic Learning in ELA: 8 Activities for Real-World Learning

Project-Based Learning , Secondary Literacy

In modern education, the shift towards real-world learning is more important than ever, and authentic learning is at the forefront of this transformation. It blends traditional classroom learning with real-life experiences, making education more engaging and relevant for students. Through this blog post, we’ll explore how authentic learning effectively connects classroom theory with the practicalities of the real world.

What is authentic learning?

Authentic learning is an educational approach where students engage in real-world, meaningful activities that mirror the complexities and interconnectedness of life outside the classroom. This method immerses students in deeper learning experiences that are rooted in practicality and relevance.

At its core, authentic learning involves tackling problems or projects that demand creativity, critical thinking, and active participation. It’s about stepping beyond the theoretical and textbook scenarios and diving into tasks that resonate with the world students live in and will eventually work in. This approach not only ignites a student’s curiosity but also enhances their ability to apply what they learn in tangible, impactful ways.

Authentic learning also emphasizes the importance of reflection and self-evaluation . Students are encouraged to contemplate their learning journey, understand their strengths and areas for improvement, and adapt accordingly. This nurtures a sense of self-awareness and responsibility towards their own learning process.

Furthermore, authentic learning often involves collaborative efforts , mirroring the teamwork and communication skills vital in most professional and personal scenarios. By working with others, students learn to negotiate, share ideas, and value diverse perspectives.

What are some examples of authentic learning?

Authentic learning opportunities range from project-based learning assignments to internships to community involvement projects. Whenever students are using real-world problem solving skills, simulating professional scenarios, or accumulating work experience, they are practicing authentic learning.

In this blog post, I’ve brought together some of your favourite teacher-authors to share 8 real-world learning activities with you!

1. Classroom Mock Trials for Authentic Learning

A  mock trial  is a simulated legal proceeding designed to mimic the format and procedures of an actual trial in a courtroom setting. Typically used as an educational tool, a mock trial involves students taking on roles such as  attorneys, witnesses,  and a  judge  to explore and analyze legal issues, practice courtroom skills, and engage in critical thinking. 

Classroom mock trials can be based on a real case or a fictional scenario. In the English classroom, mock trials provide a fantastic  project-based learning opportunity  for several short stories and novels. Mock trials also allow individuals to understand the workings of the legal system, develop advocacy skills, and gain insights into the complexities of legal proceedings. 

One of the incredible features about classroom mock trials is that they naturally lend to  differentiated instruction . With so many  mock trial roles  to explore, you can find the perfect assignment to accommodate and include every student in your classroom.

To learn more about facilitating a mock trial in your classroom, check out this blog post !

2. UN Global Goals Mini-Project

This authentic learning opportunity is all about overcoming the world’s challenges .

As all great teachers know, building bridges for students between the classroom and the real world is essential to meaningful learning. And Hey Natayle has a profound way to do it: she has her students dig into the UN’s Global Goals while sharpening their researching chops.

To launch the unit, Natayle starts with a simple task: watch the first 20 minutes of Wall-E. She has students jot down all the questions that pop up while they watch. This gets the kids thinking about everything from the environment to social responsibility, AKA a journey into critical inquiry.

Linking Wall-E’s story to the real world, Natayle hosts an eye-opening gallery walk to introduce students to the United Nation’s 17 Global Goals . After exploring all of the goals, each student chooses a goal for their research project. Whether they look into the realities of world hunger or understand the importance of access to clean water and healthcare, they get a real world perspective on pressing issues.

The best part? This project isn’t just about checking off a few writing standards. Natayle’s students really get exposure to huge global issues, sparking more conversations about the world we live in and the changes we all need to make to overcome major challenges. Talk about “real world” learning!

3. “Coffee and Donuts” Current Events

Language arts classrooms oftentimes make space for sustained silent reading or comfy independent reading time, but what about switching that time for checking in with current events ?

Amanda from Mud and Ink Teaching does just that, and she calls this authentic learning opportunity “Coffee and Donuts” time.  The coffee is optional, but the Donut is actually what is centre-stage!  If you haven’t checked it out yet, it’s about time you started reading your daily Donut : a newsletter-style email with multiple perspectives about current events.

For a few selected weeks, Amanda has students replace their quiet novel reading time with time to browse through the latest issues of The Donut .  She details her whole plan and even has a free handout to use with students on her blog right here !

4. Examining Media Bias

Like Amanda, Lesa from SmithTeaches9to12 loves to include current events in her classroom and to use the Donut! Throughout the year, students read the news in online newsletters, websites, and even old-fashioned print versions! To complement these activities, Lesa incorporates key lessons about the structure and content of media , including the presence of bias . 

Being more media literate is integral in this day and age of fake news, clickbait, and rumor-turned-breaking news. Spending some time focused on a variation of the 5Ws can help students investigate the reliability of news:

• Who is telling the story?
• What message is being ‘pushed’ in the article?
• Where does the article appear – which publication? (Using this AdFontes media chart can help with some interpretation.)
• When was this published? Is the timing relevant? Is it super close to an event’s ending that doesn’t allow much time for interpretation? Is it placed at a time to influence and how so?
• Why was this article published?

Looking for a lesson all about media bias? Check out this ready-made resource to walk students through 8 different types of media bias and then apply their knowledge with a news analysis activity.

5. Authentic Learning for Social Justice

Katie from Mochas and Markbooks knows that music is a powerful tool for teaching about social justice issues in the classroom. It can help students understand and connect with important issues in a way that is both engaging and memorable. Music can be used to teach about a wide variety of social justice issues, such as racism, sexism, and poverty.

One way to use music in the classroom is to analyze the lyrics of songs that address social justice issues . Students can listen to the song and then discuss the meaning behind the lyrics. They can examine the language used in the song and how it contributes to the message. This can help students develop critical thinking skills and become more aware of the issues around them.

Another way to use music is to have students create their own songs that address social justice issues. This can be a fun and creative way for students to express their ideas and opinions. They can work in groups or individually to write lyrics and compose music that reflects their understanding of the issue.

Music can also be used to inspire action . Students can listen to songs that address social justice issues and then brainstorm ways to take action and make a positive change in their community. This can help students feel empowered and motivated to make a difference in the world.

If you want to include music with a social message in your classroom but aren’t sure where to start, check out Songs for Social Change for links to 60 socially-minded music videos and accompanying discussion questions. You can also check out this blog post for more ideas!

6. Using Podcasts to Discuss Current Events

Kristy from 2 Peas and a Dog likes to connect her language arts classroom to the real world by integrating podcast segments into her lessons. 

Students benefit from learning about current events and the outside world in a classroom where they can get accurate information from valid sources. Students need explicit lessons on media awareness, bias, perspective and fake news . These can be taught through the use of podcast segments.

Kristy subscribes to a variety of current event podcasts and skims the episode titles to see if any might be of interest and relevant to her students. 

Below is a suggest list (not exclusive or exhaustive) of non-fiction podcasts that can be reviewed each week to see if the topics align to your lessons/curriculum.

Podcast Suggestions :

• The Current (CBC Radio One)
• The Daily (New York Times)
• Cost of Living (CBC Radio One)
• Front Burner (CBC Radio One)
• This American Life

The podcast KidNuz is a great way to start your class if you are looking for a warm up activity. Each episode is about 6 – 7 minutes long and contains many short segments about current events. At the end of the episode they have a quick comprehension quiz which your students can take. Kristy uses it with her middle school students to keep them informed of interesting student-friendly current events. 

If you want to start using podcasts in your classroom, download this free podcast lesson about subscription boxes that you can use with your classes to get them discussing this popular shopping model.

7. Nonfiction Text Activities for Authentic Learning

In today’s fast-paced world, students need to be exposed to real-world scenarios that they can relate to. Samantha from Samantha in Secondary is a huge advocate for using nonfiction text in the classroom . Teachers can accomplish this by incorporating nonfiction texts into their curriculum as often as possible. Nonfiction texts provide a wealth of information on current events, scientific discoveries, and historical events. Pick topics that pair with the text being studied in class. For example, “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller could be paired with an article on cancel culture and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury could be paired with an article on censorship . Websites like CommonLit and Newsela provide paired text sets to help you find articles for tons of specific texts.

Samantha has an arsenal of nonfiction texts ready to print and use in your own classroom in her shop. You’ll find tons of topics such as haunted places, sports players, biographies of famous historical figures, and more. Click here to see what she has to offer.

Students who study nonfiction texts learn how to analyze information, make informed opinions, and form arguments based on facts . They learn about the world beyond the classroom, and how it affects them. By using nonfiction texts, teachers can empower students to make informed decisions, not only in the classroom but in their daily lives. This ultimately prepares them for success in their future careers and as responsible citizens.

8. Authentic Learning through Theme Connections

One of the greatest beauties of literature is the universal themes that can help students connect, empathize, and see life experiences in new perspectives.

Whether it be in short stories, novels, or poems, themes that can be used to make text-to-text, text-to-self, or text-to-world connections are abundant. 

Ana from Simply Ana P. suggests not only using themes to frame essential questions , but also to drive student discussions, particularly in seminars .

There’s a multitude of seminar types, but Ana most enjoys a mix of Socratic and Paideia seminars. She has done several with her own students and created some for her teacher clients as well. 

For each seminar, students read a final supplemental text for the unit and complete pre-seminar questions to get them in the right mindset for the following day. Then, the day of seminar, the entire class sits in a leveled circle and the teacher acts as a facilitator, moving the class through questions while they discuss with each other.

Below is an example of seminar questions for a unit where students read several historical texts, watched The Woman King , and Hamilton . Identity and the pursuit of freedom were essential themes. 

Notice how several questions relate directly to the content they covered, but other questions connect the themes to broader questions and ideas that help students critically think and connect to themselves and the world . 

Here is another example of seminar questions from a mashup unit of Frankenstein and Punching the Air . 

Through the lens of universal themes, literature becomes a dynamic tool, empowering students to not only decipher the narratives on paper but to unravel the complexities of their own stories and the big, messy world around them.

If you need help crafting seminars for your units, Ana provides teacher coaching services here .

Authentic Learning: Tying it All Together

As we conclude, it’s clear that authentic learning is a vital bridge between classroom education and real-world experiences. It not only enriches students’ understanding but also prepares them for the practical challenges they’ll face outside school walls. Embracing this approach ensures that our teaching remains relevant, engaging, and deeply connected to the real world.

For more authentic learning ideas , check out this blog post on project-based learning opportunities .

Authentic Learning Environments

• First Online: 01 January 2013

Cite this chapter

• Jan Herrington 5 ,
• Thomas C. Reeves 6 &
• Ron Oliver 7  

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Authentic learning is a pedagogical approach that situates learning tasks in the context of future use. Over the last two decades, authentic learning designs have captured the imaginations of innovative educators who see the approach as a means to enable students to develop robust knowledge that transfers to real-world practice. Authentic learning has its foundations in the theory of situated cognition, together with other pedagogical approaches developed over the last two decades, such as anchored instruction. It offers an alternative instructional model based upon sound principles for the design and implementation of complex and realistic learning tasks. The technologies associated with technology-based learning provide ideal conditions for the implementation of the approach, both in blended and fully online courses. New Web-based technologies and mobile devices provide affordances—as both cognitive tools and delivery platforms—for dissemination of polished and professional authentic learning experiences. As educational institutions increasingly embrace the internet and Web-supported learning, the potential exists for authentic learning environments to be used widely to improve student learning. This chapter reviews the seminal and recent literature in the field, and provides a model of authentic learning for the design of learning environments across educational sectors.

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Authentic Learning Research and Practice: Issues, Challenges, and Future Directions

Authentic Learning and Technology Education

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This research has been supported in part by the Australian Research Council, the Australian-American Fulbright Commission, the Australian Learning and Teaching Council, and Murdoch University.

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Herrington, J., Reeves, T.C., Oliver, R. (2014). Authentic Learning Environments. In: Spector, J., Merrill, M., Elen, J., Bishop, M. (eds) Handbook of Research on Educational Communications and Technology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3185-5_32

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