[Applause] [Music]
now let’s face it that’s probably the
now let’s face it that’s probably the first and some of you were hoping the
first and some of you were hoping the
first and some of you were hoping the last time you ever see a teacher open up
last time you ever see a teacher open up
last time you ever see a teacher open up their TEDx talk with a song and dance to
their TEDx talk with a song and dance to
their TEDx talk with a song and dance to milli vanilli now I heard some blast but
milli vanilli now I heard some blast but
milli vanilli now I heard some blast but I also saw some heads nodding with me in
I also saw some heads nodding with me in
I also saw some heads nodding with me in the back which tells me you know the
the back which tells me you know the
the back which tells me you know the song
song
song for those that don’t Milli Vanilli was
for those that don’t Milli Vanilli was
for those that don’t Milli Vanilli was the infamous R&B duo that had their Best
the infamous R&B duo that had their Best
the infamous R&B duo that had their Best New Artist Grammy Award taken away from
New Artist Grammy Award taken away from
New Artist Grammy Award taken away from them when it was discovered they had
them when it was discovered they had
them when it was discovered they had been lip-synching all of their songs
been lip-synching all of their songs
been lip-synching all of their songs they never sang a single word and
they never sang a single word and
they never sang a single word and seemingly overnight their fame and
seemingly overnight their fame and
seemingly overnight their fame and fortune had disappeared as public
fortune had disappeared as public
fortune had disappeared as public opinion put a high value on authenticity
opinion put a high value on authenticity
opinion put a high value on authenticity a similar scenario plays out on one of
a similar scenario plays out on one of
a similar scenario plays out on one of my favorite TV shows the Antiques
my favorite TV shows the Antiques
my favorite TV shows the Antiques Roadshow where people from across the
Roadshow where people from across the
Roadshow where people from across the country bring in items to be appraised
country bring in items to be appraised
country bring in items to be appraised and anxiously await to find out if what
and anxiously await to find out if what
and anxiously await to find out if what they own has any worth the answer always
they own has any worth the answer always
they own has any worth the answer always lies in the items authenticity is it a
lies in the items authenticity is it a
lies in the items authenticity is it a diamond or cubic zirconia an original or
diamond or cubic zirconia an original or
diamond or cubic zirconia an original or a replica a Rolex or a knockoff one
a replica a Rolex or a knockoff one
a replica a Rolex or a knockoff one thing’s for sure authenticity matters
thing’s for sure authenticity matters
thing’s for sure authenticity matters it’s ultimately what determines
it’s ultimately what determines
it’s ultimately what determines somethings value and worth this that
somethings value and worth this that
somethings value and worth this that this statement holds true in a world of
this statement holds true in a world of
this statement holds true in a world of Education as well if we were to appraise
Education as well if we were to appraise
Education as well if we were to appraise our students educational experiences we
our students educational experiences we
our students educational experiences we would find the ones to be the most
would find the ones to be the most
would find the ones to be the most valuable the ones the students said
valuable the ones the students said
valuable the ones the students said really mattered we’ll be the ones that
really mattered we’ll be the ones that
really mattered we’ll be the ones that actually had Austin ticket authentic
actually had Austin ticket authentic
actually had Austin ticket authentic learning incorporated in them now what
learning incorporated in them now what
learning incorporated in them now what is authentic learning well it really
is authentic learning well it really
is authentic learning well it really includes four components the first of
includes four components the first of
includes four components the first of which is a real-world problem as
which is a real-world problem as
which is a real-world problem as teachers need to connect our students to
teachers need to connect our students to
teachers need to connect our students to things outside the four walls of our
things outside the four walls of our
things outside the four walls of our classroom the second is this problem
classroom the second is this problem
classroom the second is this problem should require students to think
should require students to think
should require students to think critically and use higher order skills
critically and use higher order skills
critically and use higher order skills like inquiry to solve this problem
like inquiry to solve this problem
like inquiry to solve this problem the third involves the discourse in a
the third involves the discourse in a
the third involves the discourse in a community of learners which really means
community of learners which really means
community of learners which really means that there should be a collaboration
that there should be a collaboration
that there should be a collaboration piece here where students are working in
piece here where students are working in
piece here where students are working in teams to solve problems collaborate
teams to solve problems collaborate
teams to solve problems collaborate amongst their own classmates as well as
amongst their own classmates as well as
amongst their own classmates as well as collaborating with people outside the
collaborating with people outside the
collaborating with people outside the school who are connected to this problem
school who are connected to this problem
school who are connected to this problem and the last thing which is probably the
and the last thing which is probably the
and the last thing which is probably the most difficult for teachers to do is to
most difficult for teachers to do is to
most difficult for teachers to do is to allow student directed learning to take
allow student directed learning to take
allow student directed learning to take place so this involves teachers taking a
place so this involves teachers taking a
place so this involves teachers taking a step back and allowing students to
step back and allowing students to
step back and allowing students to identify
identify
identify developed their own solutions that
developed their own solutions that
developed their own solutions that teachers probably aren’t aware of and
teachers probably aren’t aware of and
teachers probably aren’t aware of and really just be more of a facilitator and
really just be more of a facilitator and
really just be more of a facilitator and a facilitator and a resource for their
a facilitator and a resource for their
a facilitator and a resource for their students rather than teaching very
students rather than teaching very
students rather than teaching very formal lessons now I brought with me
formal lessons now I brought with me
formal lessons now I brought with me today for authentic learning examples
today for authentic learning examples
today for authentic learning examples that I’d like to share with you because
that I’d like to share with you because
that I’d like to share with you because I think they make even the strictest of
I think they make even the strictest of
I think they make even the strictest of definitions when you’re thinking about
definitions when you’re thinking about
definitions when you’re thinking about what does authentic learning look like
what does authentic learning look like
what does authentic learning look like these examples come from my junior and
these examples come from my junior and
these examples come from my junior and senior level engineering course at
senior level engineering course at
senior level engineering course at Concord and they all have the same theme
Concord and they all have the same theme
Concord and they all have the same theme focusing on developing assistive
focusing on developing assistive
focusing on developing assistive technologies for people with
technologies for people with
technologies for people with disabilities but and I brought these
disabilities but and I brought these
disabilities but and I brought these examples with me because I think they
examples with me because I think they
examples with me because I think they meet the they really illustrate what
meet the they really illustrate what
meet the they really illustrate what authentic learning looks like in my
authentic learning looks like in my
authentic learning looks like in my first example I’d like you to meet
first example I’d like you to meet
first example I’d like you to meet Justin Justin as the young man in blue
Justin Justin as the young man in blue
Justin Justin as the young man in blue scrubs up front and his job or he works
scrubs up front and his job or he works
scrubs up front and his job or he works at a local pharmacy at a hospital at the
at a local pharmacy at a hospital at the
at a local pharmacy at a hospital at the pharmacy
pharmacy
pharmacy Justin’s job is to sort through hundreds
Justin’s job is to sort through hundreds
Justin’s job is to sort through hundreds of small bags of medication students
of small bags of medication students
of small bags of medication students observe Justin in his working
observe Justin in his working
observe Justin in his working environment and they noticed that he had
environment and they noticed that he had
environment and they noticed that he had a hard time grabbing the bags of
a hard time grabbing the bags of
a hard time grabbing the bags of medicine a difficult time reading the
medicine a difficult time reading the
medicine a difficult time reading the small labels and when it came to
small labels and when it came to
small labels and when it came to alphabetically sorting he just
alphabetically sorting he just
alphabetically sorting he just cognitively had a difficult time with
cognitively had a difficult time with
cognitively had a difficult time with that another thing that students noticed
that another thing that students noticed
that another thing that students noticed was that the medicines all had barcodes
was that the medicines all had barcodes
was that the medicines all had barcodes on them so they were able to use that
on them so they were able to use that
on them so they were able to use that piece of information to kind of drive
piece of information to kind of drive
piece of information to kind of drive the device that you see demonstrated
the device that you see demonstrated
the device that you see demonstrated here
in five in four and just so you can a
in five in four and just so you can a little size to res device the impact
little size to res device the impact
little size to res device the impact that this device actually had on Justin
that this device actually had on Justin
that this device actually had on Justin when the students first met him he was
when the students first met him he was
when the students first met him he was just interning at the hospital and
just interning at the hospital and
just interning at the hospital and because of his efficiency using the the
because of his efficiency using the the
because of his efficiency using the the scan and so as they called it
scan and so as they called it
scan and so as they called it Justin was offered a paid position at
Justin was offered a paid position at
Justin was offered a paid position at the hospital which was huge thank you
the hospital which was huge thank you
the hospital which was huge thank you the the the as the excuse me as
the the the as the excuse me as
the the the as the excuse me as impressive as a device is I really want
impressive as a device is I really want
impressive as a device is I really want to highlight some of the learning going
to highlight some of the learning going
to highlight some of the learning going on behind the scenes here so the
on behind the scenes here so the
on behind the scenes here so the students took apart a scanner and they
students took apart a scanner and they
students took apart a scanner and they were measuring here the optimal height
were measuring here the optimal height
were measuring here the optimal height and the right angle to habitat so when
and the right angle to habitat so when
and the right angle to habitat so when Justin used it it would scan the
Justin used it it would scan the
Justin used it it would scan the medicines 100% of the time and here you
medicines 100% of the time and here you
medicines 100% of the time and here you see an early model as what you saw on
see an early model as what you saw on
see an early model as what you saw on the video this was neat because this
the video this was neat because this
the video this was neat because this this quickly got something in Justin’s
this quickly got something in Justin’s
this quickly got something in Justin’s hands and the students were able to meet
hands and the students were able to meet
hands and the students were able to meet with Justin’s job coaches and get
with Justin’s job coaches and get
with Justin’s job coaches and get feedback about how to improve this to
feedback about how to improve this to
feedback about how to improve this to make Justin more successful in my next
make Justin more successful in my next
make Justin more successful in my next example I’d like you to meet Becky Becky
example I’d like you to meet Becky Becky
example I’d like you to meet Becky Becky is a young woman in orange and she works
is a young woman in orange and she works
is a young woman in orange and she works at a local dog treat company that that
at a local dog treat company that that
at a local dog treat company that that packages and makes dog biscuits Becky’s
packages and makes dog biscuits Becky’s
packages and makes dog biscuits Becky’s job was to weigh and package the dog
job was to weigh and package the dog
job was to weigh and package the dog treats to a specific weight and she
treats to a specific weight and she
treats to a specific weight and she struggled with this and students
struggled with this and students
struggled with this and students realized that it was more than just
realized that it was more than just
realized that it was more than just reading the numbers on the scale she
reading the numbers on the scale she
reading the numbers on the scale she cognitively had a hard time knowing if
cognitively had a hard time knowing if
cognitively had a hard time knowing if the bag was too heavy that she need to
the bag was too heavy that she need to
the bag was too heavy that she need to remove bones and if the bag was too
remove bones and if the bag was too
remove bones and if the bag was too light she didn’t realize that she needed
light she didn’t realize that she needed
light she didn’t realize that she needed to add bones to it so they developed an
to add bones to it so they developed an
to add bones to it so they developed an interactive scale that I’d like to show
interactive scale that I’d like to show
interactive scale that I’d like to show you here we took our device to Becky and
you here we took our device to Becky and
you here we took our device to Becky and began a teacher how it works after a
began a teacher how it works after a
began a teacher how it works after a little practice with our device the
little practice with our device the
little practice with our device the wedding process for Becky became much
wedding process for Becky became much
wedding process for Becky became much more enjoyable and efficient while using
more enjoyable and efficient while using
more enjoyable and efficient while using our assistive technology
our assistive technology
our assistive technology Becky was able to successfully complete
Becky was able to successfully complete
Becky was able to successfully complete ten bags in just three minutes which is
ten bags in just three minutes which is
ten bags in just three minutes which is a remarkable improvement from what she
a remarkable improvement from what she
a remarkable improvement from what she was capable of without our device so in
was capable of without our device so in
was capable of without our device so in a job that previously frustrated Becky
a job that previously frustrated Becky
a job that previously frustrated Becky you can see the high-five there she told
you can see the high-five there she told
you can see the high-five there she told us that this wasn’t felt more like a
us that this wasn’t felt more like a
us that this wasn’t felt more like a game to her and previously she was
game to her and previously she was
game to her and previously she was frustrated and really couldn’t even
frustrated and really couldn’t even
frustrated and really couldn’t even really couldn’t do it on her own now
really couldn’t do it on her own now
really couldn’t do it on her own now she’s successful and has independence
she’s successful and has independence
she’s successful and has independence and again what’s going on how are the
and again what’s going on how are the
and again what’s going on how are the students getting to this point it’s not
students getting to this point it’s not
students getting to this point it’s not any formal lessons that I’m teaching
any formal lessons that I’m teaching
any formal lessons that I’m teaching they’re doing things like taking apart
they’re doing things like taking apart
they’re doing things like taking apart scales and harnessing the load cells out
scales and harnessing the load cells out
scales and harnessing the load cells out of them and figuring out how these
of them and figuring out how these
of them and figuring out how these things work here’s an early prototype
things work here’s an early prototype
things work here’s an early prototype that really was of no purpose to Becky
that really was of no purpose to Becky
that really was of no purpose to Becky but it gave students some confidence
but it gave students some confidence
but it gave students some confidence that hey we are getting a signal from
that hey we are getting a signal from
that hey we are getting a signal from this scale what can we do with it now
this scale what can we do with it now
this scale what can we do with it now and my third example I’d like you to
and my third example I’d like you to
and my third example I’d like you to meet Brian he’s the young man seated
meet Brian he’s the young man seated
meet Brian he’s the young man seated between the three women
between the three women
between the three women Brian’s job at the dog treat company he
Brian’s job at the dog treat company he
Brian’s job at the dog treat company he was but one of Becky’s co-workers his
was but one of Becky’s co-workers his
was but one of Becky’s co-workers his job was to take two small dog treats and
job was to take two small dog treats and
job was to take two small dog treats and put them in a small cellophane bag for
put them in a small cellophane bag for
put them in a small cellophane bag for packaging the girls noticed in observing
packaging the girls noticed in observing
packaging the girls noticed in observing Brian that he had a difficult time with
Brian that he had a difficult time with
Brian that he had a difficult time with the dexterity and the coordination
the dexterity and the coordination
the dexterity and the coordination required to package these bones so they
required to package these bones so they
required to package these bones so they developed a system that was automated
developed a system that was automated
developed a system that was automated and allowed him to be successful this
and allowed him to be successful this
and allowed him to be successful this job with a simple press of a button once
job with a simple press of a button once
job with a simple press of a button once her device was functional we took it to
her device was functional we took it to
her device was functional we took it to see Brian
Brian got acclimated to her device very
Brian got acclimated to her device very quickly and was soon growing excited
quickly and was soon growing excited
quickly and was soon growing excited after bagging his treats
after bagging his treats
after bagging his treats [Music]
we asked Brian what he thought of our
we asked Brian what he thought of our device you think it’s going to help you
so let’s cool to see Brian’s excitement
so let’s cool to see Brian’s excitement and confidence but it was also neat to
and confidence but it was also neat to
and confidence but it was also neat to see these girls really grow in a
see these girls really grow in a
see these girls really grow in a male-dominated field I’m happy to report
male-dominated field I’m happy to report
male-dominated field I’m happy to report all three of those girls are pursuing
all three of those girls are pursuing
all three of those girls are pursuing engineering at next year in college
again some snapshots of how the girls
again some snapshots of how the girls got to where they were here’s this is
got to where they were here’s this is
got to where they were here’s this is them planning a sequence of the computer
them planning a sequence of the computer
them planning a sequence of the computer program they were going to write there
program they were going to write there
program they were going to write there was a lot of timings with those motors
was a lot of timings with those motors
was a lot of timings with those motors that need to be figured out and here you
that need to be figured out and here you
that need to be figured out and here you see the motors kind of loosely just on
see the motors kind of loosely just on
see the motors kind of loosely just on the table not in any system yet they’re
the table not in any system yet they’re
the table not in any system yet they’re just playing with this was actually them
just playing with this was actually them
just playing with this was actually them testing how sticky that pad needed to be
testing how sticky that pad needed to be
testing how sticky that pad needed to be to open the bag all things that aren’t
to open the bag all things that aren’t
to open the bag all things that aren’t gonna come from me teaching lessons on
gonna come from me teaching lessons on
gonna come from me teaching lessons on this it’s just these grassroots organic
this it’s just these grassroots organic
this it’s just these grassroots organic problems that they’re solving and in in
problems that they’re solving and in in
problems that they’re solving and in in my last example I’d like you to meet
my last example I’d like you to meet
my last example I’d like you to meet rain reigns the young lady seated with
rain reigns the young lady seated with
rain reigns the young lady seated with the viola in her hand she is a fourth
the viola in her hand she is a fourth
the viola in her hand she is a fourth grader actually in our district who has
grader actually in our district who has
grader actually in our district who has cerebral palsy and she really wanted to
cerebral palsy and she really wanted to
cerebral palsy and she really wanted to play the viola with her classmates
play the viola with her classmates
play the viola with her classmates however her cerebral palsy made it
however her cerebral palsy made it
however her cerebral palsy made it difficult for her to not only hold the
difficult for her to not only hold the
difficult for her to not only hold the bill comfortably but she lacked the
bill comfortably but she lacked the
bill comfortably but she lacked the range of motion necessary to play any
range of motion necessary to play any
range of motion necessary to play any notes so I’d like to show you this video
notes so I’d like to show you this video
notes so I’d like to show you this video of reins before and after progress with
of reins before and after progress with
of reins before and after progress with our device so what’s happening yeah and
our device so what’s happening yeah and
our device so what’s happening yeah and so you see how that both crooked on the
so you see how that both crooked on the
so you see how that both crooked on the instrument
instrument
instrument yeah and even if we straighten it a
yeah and even if we straighten it a
yeah and even if we straighten it a little bit
this actually swivels so you can bring
this actually swivels so you can bring your hand as far out as you want there
your hand as far out as you want there
your hand as far out as you want there you go you can all that extra perfect so
you go you can all that extra perfect so
you go you can all that extra perfect so it’s really cool for the students and
it’s really cool for the students and
it’s really cool for the students and ringing to not only see the progress but
ringing to not only see the progress but
ringing to not only see the progress but you could hear in the notes too which
you could hear in the notes too which
you could hear in the notes too which was her too added that extra layer again
was her too added that extra layer again
was her too added that extra layer again here was this team really focused on
here was this team really focused on
here was this team really focused on improving their prototypes this is one
improving their prototypes this is one
improving their prototypes this is one of the first ones that proved to be
of the first ones that proved to be
of the first ones that proved to be pretty cumbersome they were tested on
pretty cumbersome they were tested on
pretty cumbersome they were tested on their own cardboard viola and they went
their own cardboard viola and they went
their own cardboard viola and they went back and forth from our school to their
back and forth from our school to their
back and forth from our school to their school just constantly getting feedback
school just constantly getting feedback
school just constantly getting feedback from not only rain but rains music
from not only rain but rains music
from not only rain but rains music teacher on how the device could be
teacher on how the device could be
teacher on how the device could be improved and ultimately they they
improved and ultimately they they
improved and ultimately they they developed it to look like this
developed it to look like this
developed it to look like this which is a nice stress ball for her hand
which is a nice stress ball for her hand
which is a nice stress ball for her hand to grab a velcro strap to keep it on
to grab a velcro strap to keep it on
to grab a velcro strap to keep it on there a 3d printed adapter that clips
there a 3d printed adapter that clips
there a 3d printed adapter that clips onto the bow and a swivel that helps her
onto the bow and a swivel that helps her
onto the bow and a swivel that helps her with her range of motion the value of
with her range of motion the value of
with her range of motion the value of these projects shouldn’t be measured by
these projects shouldn’t be measured by
these projects shouldn’t be measured by how impressive the technological
how impressive the technological
how impressive the technological solutions were but really by how
solutions were but really by how
solutions were but really by how authentic the learning was that got them
authentic the learning was that got them
authentic the learning was that got them there it’s this type of learning that’s
there it’s this type of learning that’s
there it’s this type of learning that’s going to add value and worth to our
going to add value and worth to our
going to add value and worth to our students education and without it will
students education and without it will
students education and without it will continue to see students lip synching
continue to see students lip synching
continue to see students lip synching their way to graduation only to be
their way to graduation only to be
their way to graduation only to be exposed when faced with difficult
exposed when faced with difficult
exposed when faced with difficult challenge in life
challenge in life
challenge in life so when you’re planning your your when
so when you’re planning your your when
so when you’re planning your your when you’re planning your next activity that
you’re planning your next activity that
you’re planning your next activity that your students please remember
your students please remember
your students please remember authenticity matters
”
Be First to Comment