All of the following characteristics must depend on each other and interrelate in a classroom setting for TRUE authentic learning.
Active
Constructive
Cooperative
Authentic
Intentional
Example:
A good active characteristic of learning allows students to learn and develop naturally. A good activity that could be used to fulfill this form of meaningful learning would be to, allow students to perform an activity on their own to learn the basis of the information. The students could be given an example natural selection. Then allow the students to perform an activity in class and act out the process. A good example is to allow students to cut out shapes of a specific animal. Let the students chose to color each animal in two or three set colors. Then place each animal on the wall. Ask the students which color of animals are the most visible. For example if the wall is painted white and the color of the animal is white they will be much harder for the students to see. Explain to the students that they are predators and should be looking for the animals that are the most easily visible to ambush. This activity allows the students to perform an activity that allows the students to learn about natural selection as they go. The activity could be made more advanced through the use of different sizes and animals.
Students could build on the last activity to fulfill this example as well. After the first activity students could give a short explanation of what has happened during the activity and explain why some animals are harder to spot then others. The students could explain what they have learned and at the same time bring up any questions they have about experiences from being outdoors.
To fulfill the cooperative part of the lesson students should be asked to form groups of two. Each group will use the internet to research the effects of natural selection on the ecosystems of today. The students will form an opinion about an issue involving natural selection and prepare a short presentation describing an example of natural selection in their home state.
To fulfill the authentic part of the lesson students could be asked to describe how natural selection affects the deer herds of Arkansas. What has happened to the habitat and how has this affected the deer movement and diet. In return what has this done to the deer as a population? This activity would need to still be directed by the teacher but allow the students to visualize the idea of natural selection in terms of their own world. This type of exercise will allow students to develop a better understanding of the idea of natural selection.
For the final aspect of intentional, students could be asked to set a goal of 3 examples of natural selection. Allow the students to use the computers in class to research and develop power point presentations to be presented in class. The students should develop a better understand of the topic while maintaining motivation by using the computers and having a goal.
Example: