Jana Brewer

2.3 Authentic Learning - model and facilitate the use of digital tools and resources to engage students in
authentic learning experiences.
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Briefly describe the artifact and the context in which it was created. What was your individual
contribution(s)?
The engaged learning project I developed required students to take on the role of geneticists.

Students used what we learned in class about genetics and cells, articles I provided them, and

interviews with geneticists from Emory University to explain how genetic cloning works and how it is

connected to the content we have learned in class. Students must decide if they are for or against

cloning and argue their side through an Adobe Spark video. I take full ownership for the

development of this engaged learning project as I created, planned, and implemented it with my

seventh-grade students. Students worked on the ELP for 90 minutes a week over the course of four

weeks. The video they created was shared with classmates, on our school news show, with the

Emory University geneticists they were paired with, and at the family technology night.

Explain how this artifact demonstrates mastery of the standard/element under which it is placed.
The engaged learning project is an authentic learning experience for students because it

allowed them to make connections to the content we were learning in class and the real world.

Students use Skype, Adobe Spark videos, and research sites to participate in authentic learning

experiences to combine what we were learning about genetics and cells to interview geneticists at

Emory University and take the role of a geneticist to develop their own ideas and opinions about

genetic cloning. The implementation of this artifact demonstrates my ability to model and facilitate

the use of digital tools as I taught students to use Skype as a digital tool for interviewing, research

skills to review articles and videos that were appropriate to developing their argument, and Adobe

Spark videos to share their new knowledge with others.

What did you learn from completing this artifact? What would you do differently to improve the
quality of the artifact or the process involved in creating the artifact? (Not changing anything is
not an acceptable response.)
 Jana Brewer

The engaged learning project is one of the first major assignments I completed in the

Instructional Technology Program. I was challenged to think in new ways and combine my

knowledge of science and language arts content with technology-enhancing opportunities to give

my digital aged students a more authentic learning experience. Through completing this artifact, I

learned how to use technology to develop a learning opportunity for students they would not be

able to have without the use of technology. This project required students to use technology to

research, develop, create, and communicate. In order to improve this artifact, I would give students

more choice in how they present their engaged learning project. Not all students are great at

creating videos and sharing their knowledge through them so by giving students choice, they would

be able to use technology in a way that would allow them to share their new knowledge in a way

that meets their needs and interests best.

How did the work that went into creating this artifact impact school improvement, faculty
development, or student learning? How can this impact be assessed?
The work that went into creating this artifact greatly improved student learning. Before the

course I completed this artifact in, I used technology with students but did not use it to develop and

implement engaging, authentic, and real-world learning opportunities for my students. By creating

this artifact, I learned how to use technology with my students to give them experiences they would

not otherwise have without the use of technology. Students who completed this project were given

the opportunity to talk to real geneticists and see how the content we had been covering in class

connected to someone’s real life work.