Authentic Learning Beyond The Classroom
Wouldn't it be tremendous if your students took responsibility, at least in part, for their own learning on an excursion?
Wouldn't it be a breakthrough to be able to cater for a range of student interests and needs on the one trip?
Would it not be marvellous to have your whole class thoroughly engaged in their own pursuits on an excursion?
Recent research has shown that many students see a visit to a museum as little more than a day out. Authentic Learning Beyond the Classroom is a project undertaken by the Sovereign Hill Education Service designed to give school excursions more purpose and focus.
Follow the steps outlined below, download the forms and change them as you see fit. (These forms may take a while to download but they are worth the wait!) If you experience any difficulties, please email Peter Hoban and we will forward copies of the documents to you. phoban@sovereignhill.com.au
The project follows five simple steps:
1. Define your Project
In consultation with their teacher and using the table provided (based on both Gardner's and Bloom's theories), students choose a project to research on a visit to Sovereign Hill. Teachers should feel free to change the table in any way to meet their needs. (Note: Some projects listed involve whole-class activities to be undertaken at Sovereign Hill).
Click here to download a Microsoft Wordİ copy of the Define Your Project Table that teachers may alter as they see fit.
Using a simple form (A4 folded booklet), students outline Things I Now Know (Think) and What I Need to Know (Wink) about their chosen topic. They then use the Sovereign Hill Web site to decide where and how they might find their information while on their excursion.
Click here to download Microsoft Wordİ the Think, Wink, Decide Booklet.
Remember to fold the A4 page to form a booklet.
Click here to download a Microsoft Wordİ version of the Think, Wink, Decide Instructions also lists useful Internet sites.
3. Undertake the Excursion
An excursion can be booked by contacting our Schools Booking Officer on (03) 5337 1188. Information about our education programs can be found at www.sovereignhill.com.au/education. We suggest that teachers set aside an appropriate amount of time for students to undertake work for their projects. Appropriate supervision is the responsibility of the teacher in charge.
4. Present the Project
After suitable preparation time back at school. teachers may wish to have students present their projects to their classmates or to a wider audience. Any materials produced and published on the web can easily be linked to the Sovereign Hill Education Service's web site via our School's Showcase. Contact Peter Hoban phoban@sovereignhill.com.au
5. Student Self Assessment
Students use a simple form to assess how well they researched and presented their topic. Space is available for teacher comment.
Click here to download a Microsoft Wordİ version of the Student Self Assessment Form
Acknowledgements
Authentic Learning Beyond the Classroom has been inspired by Dr. Janette Griffin's work on educational outcomes in museums and by Darryn Kruse's workshops and writings on using Multiple Intelligences in the Classroom. Special thanks to Christine Branagh and Dianne Killeen and the students of Wendouree Primary for their enthusiasm in trialling this project.