Authenticity

The way we view the primary role of education influences the discourse around schooling (Labaree, 1997). The authentic learning framework stems from social constructivism theory: a belief that learning is collaboratively constructed and that understanding develops from sharing information and challenging others to build knowledge (Vygotsky, 1978). As we learn, we are shaped by those around us and our learning environment, which in turn influences how we construct our knowledge (Darling-Hammond et al., 2021; Osher et al., 2020). The authentic learning approach fosters a learning environment that supports students in achieving their educational goals and becoming engaged citizens, professionals, and dreamers. 

The Authentic Learning Framework

As we explore the idea of authentic learning practices, the research offers a view of authenticity not as a single idea but instead as a collection of components. These components provide students with varied opportunities to connect with the content in personally meaningful and relevant ways to ensure retention and application of knowledge across contexts. Research has shown that teachers can emphasize learning as meaningful when it is student-centered, collaborative, contextual, and integrated with community and society (Anderson, 1983; Atkinson & Schiffrin, 1977; Ausubel, 2000; Bransford et al., 2000; Dewey, 1966; Piaget, 1972). These types of learning experiences increase positive emotions around learning, garner higher perceptions of relevance and long-term understanding, and activate student engagement in learning as well as an intrinsic motivation to learn (Nachtigall et al., 2022; Parsons et al., 2021; Jeter et al., 2019; Kuhlthau et al., 2015). Authentic practices not only help teachers to more fully engage students, but also allow students to gravitate toward learning that resonates with them.

Authentic learning practices center on the following components:

1. Student-centered learning. We often use the term “student-centered learning” to describe a shift in teaching focus from the teacher to the student. This idea can include aspects of student agency (Manyukhina & Wyse, 2019; Moses et al., 2020; Reeve & Shin, 2020), scaffolded learning environments (De Backer et al., 2016; Mariage et al., 2019; Schwartz et al., 2021), and the cultural nature of learning (Esteban-Guitart & Moll, 2014; Hammond, 2015; Kelly et al., 2021; National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine [NASEM], 2018). Student-centered learning emphasizes the student’s role in constructing their own knowledge. These types of guided learning opportunities help students make purposeful learning decisions that connect to their existing cultures, experiences, and understandings (Colter & Ulatowsky, 2017). A student-centered learning environment allows teachers to serve as facilitators throughout the process, supporting students as they become independent learners (Lee & Hannafin, 2016; Reeve & Shin, 2020). 
2. Construction of knowledge. Construction of knowledge forms the foundation of constructivist theory, building on the idea that there is no knowledge independent of the meaning that we construct as learners (Fox, 2001; Piaget, 1972; Vygotsky, 1978). How we construct knowledge is grounded in the work of Piaget, but these ideas have also expanded through recent studies in cognitive psychology, brain research, and human development, which have shown how complex interactions between learners and their environments result in structural changes to the brain’s neural networks (Liu et al., 2017; NASEM, 2018). These neural networks make up the long-term memory of individuals and are continuously extended and reshaped as new information is received from the environment (Liu et al., 2017). Our prior experiences are shaped by educational, social, and cultural experiences both in and out of the classroom (Liu et al., 2017; NASEM, 2018). 
3. Inquiry-based learning. Inquiry-based learning is an active process that begins with and is guided by relevant questions (Chatterjee et al., 2009; Kuhlthau et al., 2015). Teachers can facilitate the inquiry process by helping students to ask good questions, find relevant information, and think through their conclusions, inferences, and solutions (Kranzfelder et al., 2019; Ligozat et al., 2017). As students work to answer questions through research, analysis, and collaborative discourse, they synthesize and make sense of information and ideas that enable them to deepen their knowledge and share their new understanding with others. Through a focus on inquiry, we allow a student’s own curiosity to drive how they construct their knowledge.
4. Real-world connections. Connecting learning to the real world helps students see how their learning might be applicable in the future, while also motivating them to attempt to apply their learning in meaningful ways (Darling-Hammond et al., 2021). These real-world connections can help students develop aspirations about what they want to do after school, since they are positioned to imagine themselves trying different future paths as they learn (Singer et al., 2020; Beier et al., 2018; Koomen et al., 2018). When teachers deliberately integrate the school setting with the real world, students can more easily transfer skills upon entering the workforce (Osher et al., 2020). 

With each of these components building on one another, authentic teaching and learning practices emphasize the meaningful aspects of learning. These components of authenticity demonstrate a clear connection between learning and the benefits achieved when that learning has clear value beyond the classroom. By incorporating the components of authenticity, teachers can position themselves to facilitate learning experiences that students will recognize as both intrinsically meaningful and also meaningful for how they interact with their world. 

Authenticity in Practice

With a clear view of the key elements of authenticity, we can work to integrate these elements into our teaching practice. Whether working directly with technology or not, teachers can use authenticity to impact day-to-day learning in the classroom. 

Authenticity in context. Balance is key in applying the components of authenticity to the classroom environment. Not all aspects of authenticity are necessary to include in a lesson to make it an authentic learning experience. A great first step is intentionally considering which aspects of authenticity will best serve students. While there are areas where the components of authenticity overlap in their intent, each of these components will help to develop a student-centered learning experience. Integrating authentic teaching practices into classroom learning might involve:

• Integrating inquiry into all subject areas to reap the benefits seen in the sciences, with consideration for content specifics and retention of knowledge (Kuhlthau et al., 2015; Nachtigall et al., 2022). 
• Increasing student agency by providing choice and ownership (Moses et al., 2020).
• Honoring students’ personal cultures and understanding the value of their unique perspectives (Darling-Hammond et al., 2021).
• Scaffolding discussions and allowing students to lead discourse (Harris et al., 2012).
• Seeking out authentic audiences for quality feedback and understanding of real-world contexts (Nachtigall et al., 2022).
• Mirroring the real world in the tasks assigned to students and the tools they use (Burgin, 2020).
• Acknowledging students’ interests, values, identities, and aspirations, and then making meaningful connections to these characteristics (Kenyon, 2020; Ryan & Deci, 2019).

It is important for practitioners to stretch and implement new methods to enhance authenticity. School leaders should encourage and support teachers in implementing strategies to improve authenticity for better student outcomes in the classroom and the postsecondary environment. 

Real-world connections through service learning. Authenticity can also be integrated into learning through the real-world connections seen in service learning. Service learning refers to learning experiences that ask students to engage with their surrounding communities through meaningful opportunities for learning and collaboration (Dymond et al., 2013; Sprague Martinez et al., 2017). In service learning, we see a clear commitment to authenticity as real-world problems are approached with a focus on the common good, society, and learning by doing (Shumer et al., 2017). Service learning allows students to take an active role in their education by asking questions, seeking out and grappling with evidence (Brewer & Daane, 2002; Sprague Martinez et al., 2017), and using their preconceived notions about the world and their understanding of how things work (Gibson & Chase, 2002; Sprague Martinez et al., 2017). Rooted in the reflective processes defined by John Dewey, service learning is an ever-evolving process (Reif-Stice & Smith-Frigerio, 2021) that links academic standards with community service performed by the student so that each strengthens the other. Service learning not only provides a sense of empowerment to the groups most directly in need of change, but also reinforces the value of learning by asking students to devise solutions to community problems. 

Effective service learning includes: 

• Integration into the academic curriculum. When integrated directly into the curriculum, service learning allows the learning to extend beyond the classroom. This ensures students learn from the work they do while helping the communities they serve (Dymond et al., 2013). 

• An emphasis on relevance. Service learning activities and experiences should be relevant to students and the communities they are serving (Boss, 1994; Filges et al., 2022; Dymond et al., 2013; Leming, 2001; Skinner & Chapman, 1999; White & Mistry, 2016). This emphasis on relevance must also extend to personal and cultural relevance for students in order to drive curiosity and result in better academic outcomes (Cabrera et al. 2014). 
• Critical reflection. Requiring students to critically reflect is vital within the context of service learning, as it gives students the opportunity to think, talk, or write about what they observed and learned throughout the process (Eyler & Giles, 1999; Giles & Eyler, 1994). Critical reflection also helps students to understand the meaning of their work, deepen the knowledge acquired, and gain key insights into the broader community-level factors that influence decision-making (Eyler & Giles, 1999; Giles & Eyler, 1994; Sprague Martinez et al., 2017).

Authentic use of technology. As the professional world becomes more technology-centric, finding ways to integrate authentic, real-world tools becomes increasingly important (Dishon, 2021). The authentic use of technology includes: 

• Using technology to help students participate in real-world endeavors and share the products of these endeavors with a larger audience (Dishon, 2021). These opportunities allow students to practice authentically using tools in a way that prepares them to face the challenges ahead. 
• Emphasizing technology as a tool to support authentic learning. This involves evaluating  technology tools and resources in relation to learning tasks. In doing so, we shift the focus away from the technology itself and toward how that technology can bridge the divide between the classroom and the world beyond, simulating external environments (Hod & Sagy, 2019).
• Evaluating technology in terms of authenticity. With the belief that learning should be the primary goal and the use of technology a secondary goal, Kolb (2017) recommends three questions in her Triple E framework to gauge authenticity when incorporating technology into learning: reflect on whether a tool engages students in the learning goal, enhances the learning goal, or extends the learning goal.

Increasing our digital fluency—the ability to search for, evaluate, and use information and technology—is key to ensuring that all technology tools are integrated authentically.

Conclusion

Authentic learning supports educators in developing student-centered learning experiences grounded in a scaffolded process where students build on their identities, cultural backgrounds, and existing knowledge through inquiry and discourse to deepen their understanding and enrich their sense of purpose in the world. Educators are authentic in their practice by being true to the content, the learning process, and the science that supports how people learn. Students develop a connectedness to their learning through their personal histories, aspirations, and cultures. At its heart, authenticity infuses learning with purpose and meaning so that students develop the skills necessary to fully engage with the world around them.

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