Authentic Lessons for 21st Century Learning

Author Profile

Brittany Bowens's Profile

Profile Picture

Brittany Bowens

LEARN Author

K20 Center

Academic Credentials

Bachelor of Science in Biology Education
University of Central Oklahoma 2011

About Me

Brittany Bowens serves the K20 Educational and Community Center as a Science Online Learning Writer. Bowens and the fellow instructional design team work to develop high-quality science curriculum for K12 schools that can be used in a face-to-face, hybrid, or fully online platforms that support the mission of the K20 Center and its projects. Bowens also develops science lessons aligned to the Oklahoma Academic Standards that is accessible for implementation by any teacher. Her mission is to cultivate the love of learning and encourage creativity, compassion, and innovation.

Recent Publications

The following resources provide practical tips for completing an instructional coaching cycle with teachers. They guide coaches through the key phases of the process: goal-setting, observation, and reflection. In the goal-setting stage, coaches collaborate with the teacher to establish clear, achievable... Read more »

Tag Target Audience

  • Administrators, New Teachers, Other Stakeholders, Teachers

Tag Calendar Placement

  • Any time of year, Planning/Collaboration/Conference Time

User Group Group Size

  • Individual

Time Frame Time To Complete

  • More Than 30 Minutes

Tag Intention Or Purpose

  • Action Plans, Activate Prior Knowledge, Analyze, Brainstorming, Collaborate, Conversation Starter, Critical Thinking, Evaluate, Increase Teacher "Toolbox", Organize, Present, Problem Solving, Reflection, Requires Multiple Meetings to Complete, Review, Self-assessment, Speak & Listen
More
Time Frame

This collection of professional learning resources empowers educators to use a variety of tools and strategies to foster authenticity in their teaching practices. The collection invites teachers to embrace authenticity and create a classroom environment that values genuine connections, constructive... Read more »

Tag Target Audience

  • All Staff or Teachers, New Teachers, PLC, Teachers

Tag Calendar Placement

  • Any time of year, Planning/Collaboration/Conference Time, Pre-Service Training, Summer Session

User Group Group Size

  • Large Group (at least 30), Medium Group (at least 10), Small Group (at least 4)

Tag Intention Or Purpose

  • Activate Prior Knowledge, Active Engagement, Brainstorming, Collaborate, Compare & Contrast, Conversation Starter, Critical Thinking, Evaluate, Increase Teacher "Toolbox", Organize, Physical Movement, Problem Solving, Reason, Reflection, Self-assessment, Speak & Listen, Student Choice, Summarize, Text analysis, Text evidence

Copied To Clipboard Standards

  • 1b, 1c, 1d, 1h, 2a, 2c, 2g, 2j, 2k, 2m, 3i, 3k, 4c, 4d, 4h, 4m, 5d, 5e, 5g, 7j, 8i, 8j
More
Time Frame

During this phase of the coaching cycle, the instructional coach will set a time to meet with the teacher, review the components of authenticity, assist in setting long-term and short-term goals, and determine the necessary steps to pursue those goals. Together, the coach and teacher will choose an... Read more »

Educator Resource

Tag Target Audience

  • Administrators, Other Stakeholders

Tag Calendar Placement

  • Any time of year, Planning/Collaboration/Conference Time

User Group Group Size

  • Individual

Tag Intention Or Purpose

  • Action Plans, Activate Prior Knowledge, Active Engagement, Analyze, Brainstorming, Collaborate, Conversation Starter, Critical Thinking, Evaluate, Increase Teacher "Toolbox", Organize, Present, Problem Solving, Reflection, Requires Multiple Meetings to Complete, Review, Self-assessment, Speak & Listen, Summarize
More
Time Frame 45 minutes

The final and most transformative stage of the instructional Coaching Cycle is the Reflection stage. It involves recurring contemplation with the goal of enhancing teaching approaches. In this stage, participants connect new knowledge to their decision-making process. Teachers assess whether the goals... Read more »

Educator Resource

Tag Target Audience

  • New Teachers, Teachers

Tag Calendar Placement

  • Any time of year, Planning/Collaboration/Conference Time

User Group Group Size

  • Individual

Tag Intention Or Purpose

  • Action Plans, Activate Prior Knowledge, Analyze, Brainstorming, Collaborate, Conversation Starter, Critical Thinking, Evaluate, Increase Teacher "Toolbox", Organize, Present, Problem Solving, Reflection, Requires Multiple Meetings to Complete, Review, Self-assessment, Speak & Listen
More
Time Frame 60 min

The observation stage of the coaching cycle provides the instructional coach with an opportunity to observe the agreed-upon learning activity from the goal-setting stage. The coach evaluates progress made toward the goal and determines recommendations for improvement. The teacher facilitates the observation... Read more »

Educator Resource

Tag Target Audience

  • Administrators, Other Stakeholders

Tag Calendar Placement

  • Any time of year, Planning/Collaboration/Conference Time

User Group Group Size

  • Individual

Tag Intention Or Purpose

  • Action Plans, Activate Prior Knowledge, Analyze, Brainstorming, Collaborate, Conversation Starter, Critical Thinking, Evaluate, Increase Teacher "Toolbox", Organize, Present, Problem Solving, Reflection, Requires Multiple Meetings to Complete, Review, Self-assessment, Speak & Listen, Summarize
More
Time Frame 85–130 minutes

In this session, participants will explore inquiry-based learning, one of the components of authenticity. Participants will identify barriers to productive student discussion and explore solutions to overcome these barriers. Participants will read a research brief on inquiry-based learning and apply... Read more »

Tag Target Audience

  • All Staff or Teachers, New Teachers, PLC, Teachers

Tag Calendar Placement

  • Any time of year

User Group Group Size

  • Large Group (at least 30), Medium Group (at least 10)

Tag Intention Or Purpose

  • Active Engagement, Collaborate, Compare & Contrast, Conversation Starter, Critical Thinking, Evaluate, Increase Teacher "Toolbox", Physical Movement, Reason, Reflection, Self-assessment, Speak & Listen, Student Choice, Text evidence

Copied To Clipboard Standards

  • 3k, 4c, 5d, 5e, 8i
More
Time Frame 100 minutes

In this professional learning session, participants explore the structure of a 5E lesson. They evaluate a model lesson from LEARN, determining how each section addresses components of Authenticity. Participants then examine resources on the 5E Model and discuss their findings. Next, participants work... Read more »

Tag Target Audience

  • All Staff or Teachers, New Teachers, PLC, Teachers

Tag Calendar Placement

  • Any time of year

User Group Group Size

  • Large Group (at least 30), Medium Group (at least 10)

Copied To Clipboard Standards

  • 3d, 3p, 4l, 6k, 8l
More
Time Frame 140 minutes

In this session, participants will explore the authenticity component, student-centered learning. First, participants identify characteristics of student-centered learning environments. Next, participants consider common views regarding student engagement and how it affects learning. Participants will... Read more »

Tag Target Audience

  • All Staff or Teachers, New Teachers, PLC, Teachers

Tag Calendar Placement

  • Any time of year

User Group Group Size

  • Large Group (at least 30), Medium Group (at least 10)

Tag Intention Or Purpose

  • Activate Prior Knowledge, Active Engagement, Brainstorming, Collaborate, Critical Thinking, Increase Teacher "Toolbox", Organize, Reflection, Self-assessment, Speak & Listen, Student Choice, Text analysis

Copied To Clipboard Standards

  • 1b, 2a, 3i, 7j
More
Time Frame

During this professional learning session, participants will explore the principles of authenticity and real-world connections. They will apply academic knowledge to solve and illustrate authentic problems that students may encounter both inside and outside of the classroom. Additionally, they will... Read more »

Tag Target Audience

  • All Staff or Teachers, New Teachers, PLC, Teachers

Tag Calendar Placement

  • Any time of year

User Group Group Size

  • Large Group (at least 30), Medium Group (at least 10)

Copied To Clipboard Standards

  • 2j, 2k, 2m, 4m, 5g
More
Time Frame 90 minutes

In this session, participants will explore the construction of knowledge, one of the components of authenticity. Participants will discover the value of learning experiences that reflect real-world contexts and challenges by connecting students' prior experiences with new concepts to deepen understanding... Read more »

Tag Target Audience

  • All Staff or Teachers, New Teachers, PLC, Teachers

Tag Calendar Placement

  • Any time of year

User Group Group Size

  • Large Group (at least 30), Medium Group (at least 10)

Tag Intention Or Purpose

  • Activate Prior Knowledge, Active Engagement, Collaborate, Compare & Contrast, Critical Thinking, Evaluate, Increase Teacher "Toolbox", Organize, Reflection, Self-assessment, Summarize, Text analysis

Copied To Clipboard Standards

  • 1d, 2c, 4d, 4h, 8j
More
Time Frame 80 minutes