3 Defining Authentic Learning

Authentic learning is a buzzy concept. What is the excitement about? It’s a little hard to say.

There are many definitions of authentic learning. Contributors to the Wikipedia entry on authentic learning provide an especially exhaustive list of 15 characteristics. Sometimes more is less. Most of those 15 characteristics are probably somewhat marginal to the needs of educators. It is likely that if ten instructors were asked to choose their three favorites, there would be limited agreement on what properly belongs inside the magical bundle of authentic learning.

It’s not just about contents. It’s also about boundaries. Authentic learning is a boundary object, because features that are attributed to authentic learning are also attributed to other reform pedagogies. Consider the following list: student-driven learning; learning by doing; open-ended assignments; experiential learning; and multimodal learning. Are these all components of authentic learning? Or do they somehow stand apart?

There are real tensions involved.

When we get down to the question of the core features of authentic learning, some proponents emphasize vocational relevance. Consider this definition from a blog advocating educational reform: “authentic learning refers to a wide variety of educational and instructional techniques focused on connecting what students are taught in school to real-world issues, problems, and applications.” And what makes the world real? A paycheck.

But while many authors place the real world at the center of authentic learning, and then position vocational training at the center of authentic learning, others stress more traditional humanistic values. For this latter group, authentic learning is about reflecting on our experience in ways that profoundly impact our sense of purpose and self.

We could juxtapose more definitions, but this is far enough to make the point we are after: authentic learning is a contested practice, and expanding the list won’t help.

So what does authentic learning mean in this course? I’m going to rely on case studies to capture my own take – which is far from universal and has a lot to do with anthropology and design.Our first case study will focus on experiments in authentic learning in social work a century ago. Our second will examine authentic learning in the context of digital innovation.