Week 2 Reflection

Authentic and Experiential Learning 

in the Classroom

    Each day, we encounter technology interwoven in every aspect of our lives. It's hard to fathom current life without this integral part of our everyday norm. As educators, we should be using the latest technology in the classroom consistently. This will facilitate that becoming the new norm for learning. Our students deserve better than to sit in front of a PowerPoint and be lectured to!

    When I consider the various learning strategies available to use, it is conceivable to see how active and authentic learning should be occurring in the classroom. As a new educator, I will be taking what I have learned in these last few courses and apply it to my lesson planning. It is well known that students learn best through hands-on experiences, and those should not be limited to clinical hours only. Having active learning strategies through use of technology within the classroom will reinforce the concepts being taught and create an experiential learning environment. This website is a great resource for educators about experiential education.

    Authentic learning is a life skill and not just applicable to nursing school. Our students should be equipped with this ability so when they encounter real-life situations, they have the tools to problem solve a solution. This article on authentic learning offers educators great advice. I love that the author says there is no set formula on how to design authentic learning classrooms and educators should use our personal judgement as our guide. As I grow in my understanding and experience as an educator, I will apply that personal judgement through modifying my teaching strategies for my classroom as necessary. Adjustments will need to be made as modern technology advances to further enhance student learning.