- "a form of assessment in which students are asked to perform real-world tasks that demonstrate meaningful application of essential knowledge and skills.” Mueller (n.d, ¶ 1)
- need to reflect the “kinds of problems faced by adult citizens and consumers or professionals in the field." Wiggins (1993, p. 229)
- “learning methods that are embedded in authentic situations are not merely useful; they are essential.” Brown, Collins & Duguid (1989, as cited in Authentic Task Design, n.d., ¶ 1)
Learning (Disorienting) Dilemmas
- ‘disorienting dilemmas’ are learning situations that do not fit the learner’s preconceived notions (Mezirow, 1991)
- learning dilemmas trigger critical reflection and in the event of a new experience, our existing knowledge structures “act as a sieve through which each new experience is interpreted and given meaning.” (Taylor, 1998, p. 7)
It is important to note that this blog uses the terms learning dilemmas and disorienting dilemmas interchangeably. Further, when referring to transformative learning, I am implying a learning dilemma context
How do these definitions 'fit' in your teaching philosophy to engaging students in an online ? learning setting? Do you have any examples to support these definitions?
References
Authentic Task Design. (n.d). Retrieved May 28, 2008, from http://www.authentictasks.uow.edu.au/framework.html
Mezirow, J. (1991). Transformative dimensions in adult learning. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Mueller, J. (2005). What is Authentic Assessment? Authentic Assessment Toolbox. Retrieved April 25, 2008, from http://jonathan.mueller.faculty.noctrl.edu/toolbox/whatisit.htm
Taylor, E. W. (1998). The theory and practice of transformative learning: A critical review. Information Series No. 374. Columbus, USA: ERIC Clearinghouse on Adult, Career, and Vocational Education, Center on Education and Training for Employment, College of Education, Ohio State University.
Wiggins, G. P. (1998). Educative assessment: Designing assessments to inform and improve student performance. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
