EDUCATION

How do 4th graders use authentic learning to retain information?

[Name of the Institute]

How do 4th graders use authentic learning to retain information?

Introduction

Authentic learning is defined as the action for the research time which enables students to engage in the students in relevant and authentic learning experiences. Authentic learning is used as a source for benefiting the learners, as well as the society. Learning is considered as the personal character of the human. One cannot force a child to learn until they develop the responsibility and eagerness themselves. Force learning never helps to retain the critical thinking and reasoning with the child (Myra, 2010).

Authentic Learning is defined as the process of applying the real object learning methods, and developing the learning process through extra-curricular activities into the class room, to support learning without big changes of activities and teaching methods. Authentic learning deals with the interaction with real world problems, in projects that make sense for students. The process revolves around the authentic tasks that are meaningful to the learner (Woods, 1995). They are usually guided by teachers for a proper understanding and give a broad base for the student to explore and investigate the provided framework. Student then mitigates the framework through their ides and creativeness in a socially reflected situation (Voss, 2011).

Discussion

Students use the authentic learning process in contrast to their retention capabilities. They tend to pull from their own background experiences and knowledge to reflect upon new concepts and ideas, construct explanations, and consider alternative perspectives to concepts and ideas. Students generally immerse themselves in “the big picture” ideas, and delve into complexities of content. The thematic impact is built within their experience, which they use in later situations for analysis (DeLauer, 2011).

According to Vanderbilt Cognition and Technology Group (Situated Cognition), there are three levels of authentic learning process. The first level has objects-data setting, for example, (from the perspective of teaching a fourth grad student in terms of helping him to retain information). An assignment related to say, the weather forecast can be given to them so that they can note down the changes in weather for a specified time period. This will help them to gain the insight for changes in the weather and explore new things about them (Chung, 2011).

Within the second level, students should be asking to perform the genuine reasoning for their projects. This talks about the focus of student in making a rational decision and reason for their answer.

Third level dictates the authenticity look, for the process of "doing mathematics”. Here, the students will create an argument over the analysis of data in terms of testing, proposing and revising their termed hypothesis. This part helps them in accepting the criticism and counter arguments.

Using Authentic learning for teaching 4th Graders

The age group of 4th grade students is around 9 - 10 years old kids. As per their psychological attributes, these kids are fast learners and keen observers. They are at the high growth phase of brain cells, therefore, every concept which is ...