WHAT IS AUTHENTIC EDUCATION
The core values of an authentic education are experience, connections, and application. The experience is the way in which student's are taught. Learning through experiences implies that students will be performing hands on work, group activities, and working in real world situations. Connections are made by students once a complete understanding of the topics is ensured. The connections will link together the information students are taught to real examples and situations. The application will occur after understanding is ensured and the connections are made. Student's should have the opportunity to apply their knowledge and understandings to real situations where they can see their knowledge and connections at work.
CURRENTThe current public education system unfortunately showcases and holds values in:
Quantitative assessment, testing and grading, lack of creativity, college and career readiness, curricular requirements, and courses confined to classrooms
It is necessary that changes be made in order to instill creativity, independence, and individualistic character into students.
|
AUTHENTICThe ideal education system, authentic education, showcases and holds values in:
Quality of knowledge, ungraded assignments, unique skills and talents, life readiness, relevant information and connections, and real world experience
These qualities allow students to explore other topics than specifically stated in the curriculum and provide situations where students can grow their educations.
|
WHAT WILL CHANGE AND IMPROVE
In current education systems there are classes of over twenty students to one teacher, where information is required to be memorized, repeated, and regurgitated. These rigid classroom environments lack the comfortable, safe environment that is necessary to build a healthy, strong education.
By changing class size and atmosphere the relationships between students, teachers and parents will also change. Smaller classes will allow relationships to expand and grow, thus creating a more nurturing learning environment. Improved student, teacher, and parent relationships will allow the learning experience to go beyond the classroom.
|
Improving the classroom atmosphere and student, teacher, parent relationships will allow the learning experience to expand and prosper past the traditional sense of learning. |
WHERE DOES CHANGE LIE
Through the expansion of the learning experience from just school to the community and homes of students, the acquisition of knowledge will grow as a result of the expanding learning environment. The growth and extension of the learning environment provides opportunity for cross-curricular knowledge application as well as the opportunity for students to apply their knowledge to situations outside of the classroom.
|
The changes to the school environment will include smaller classes and the utilization of group work. Smaller classes and group work provide the space necessary to grow relationships between students. In addition, working in groups allows students to enhance their collaborative abilities.
WHAT IS THE PERFECT MIX
For years, homeschooling has been an alternate form of education which provides students with an individual, personalized education specific to the students' interests and talents. There are many methods used in homeschooling that the public school system can also utilize. Parts of these methods that could be applied to the public school systems in order to modernize and improve the education systems. In addition from learning from homeschoolers, public education systems need to update to accommodate modern standards. This can be found through the use of guest speakers, field trips, and internships.