The Authentic Learning Initiative is designed to engage faculty conversations around the topic of authentic learning and assessment. By creating learning environments using authentic contexts that ensure assessment truly measures whether students can use their knowledge effectively and realistically. This initiative consists of round table topic discussions, design phases, and development of an authentic learning experience for a course using instructional technology. We thoughtfully examine how assignments are designed to facilitate authentic tasks and assessments using the tools at the University of Virginia (UVA), with the necessary support they need to be successful.
This initiative is offered through a partnership with A&S Technology Strategies and the Digital Media Lab, promoting a team-based approach to the design of authentic activities and assessments for instruction. Over 50% of participants are STEM faculty.