2.

3 Authentic Learning

Model and facilitate the use of digital tools and resources to engage students in authentic learning
experiences

This artifact was an extensive cross-curricular project between my language arts class and a colleague’s
world geography class. Students were tasked with answering the question, “How does a population
adapt and/or change in the face of catastrophic adversity?” This question was the driving force behind
the entire project. The summative project for this unit was that students had to design a product that
demonstrated their answer to the question and then present it to their peers, teachers, parents, and
community members. As students were planning their projects, they were able to visit the Atlanta
Holocaust museum, the Jimmy Carter center, and they had the opportunity to hear two Holocaust
survivors speak to their experience during that time. The authenticity of this experience really engaged
the students as they were planning their project.

This artifact demonstrates my mastery of this standard because I was able to create an immersive
environment to inspire students to truly reflect on catastrophic adversity since most of my students had
not personally experienced this. In order to accomplish this, I had to model and facilitate the use of a
variety of digital tools throughout the entire unit to emphasize the flexibility of digital tools to enhance a
particular learning experience. The digital tools that were used ranged from simple presentations, to
virtual reality tours through Auschwitz. Allowing students to engage in these authentic learning
experiences changed their perspective on what it takes to survive a catastrophe. Having such a
significant portion of this project take place outside of the school walls contributed to the level of
authenticity both for me as the instructor and for the students.

In completing this project, I learned about the value of authenticity in terms of engagement. Out of all of
the projects that students have completed for my class over the years, this project produced the best
artifacts because students had control and immersive experiences to guide their product. If I were to
complete this project again, I think that I would expand the context beyond the Holocaust. Since we
have students from so many different cultures, it would be more culturally responsive to look into a
variety of cultures overcoming catastrophic adversity.

The work that went into this project improved student learning because it gave students a holistic
learning experience that extended beyond the walls of their school. Students were able to communicate
with actual Holocaust survivors to gain a meaningful understanding of what it means to survive tragedy
and rebuild from nothing. This knowledge and deep understanding allowed students to express their
own ideas in a way that was meaningful to them. The impact was assessed through the projects that
students created. Their presentation of their artifacts were passionate and engaging far beyond any
other project I have assigned to students.