CE The Big Shift: From Schooling to Authentic Learning

The Five Principles of Authentic Learning Somewhere along the way, a lot of children go from asking, “Why?” to asking, “Is this going to be on the test?” And that should bother us! Everybody knows education needs to change. We talk about it all the time. People say that the top skills that children need for the future that is already upon is are: • creativity • critical thinking • collaboration • curiosity • real-world learning You want to create those moments where a child says, “Wait — that’s amazing!” or “Can I try?” or “I want to learn more about that!” Too often teachers find themselves trapped in systems where they’re handed pacing guides, textbooks, worksheets, tests, standards, schedules, and expectations that leave very little room for inspiration and creativity. Here are the Five Principles of Authentic Learning: 1. Every child has genius. 2. Each child learns at their own pace. 3. Children love to learn. 4. Children want more. 5. Children deserve to feel comfortable, included, and liberated. Let’s walk through each one!