Five Standards of Authentic Instruction

Fred M. Newmann & Gary G. Wehlage, in their article, Five Standards of Authentic Instruction, identify five key standards that must exist for learning to be considered authentic. I love the idea of these key standards but still question how to apply these standards in the classroom.

According to Newmann and Wehlage, the following elements must exist:

1. Higher-order thinking - students manipulate ideas to create their own meaning.
2. Depth of knowledge - covering of few topics in a connected way - allow students to draw connections on their own (drilling down...rather then skimming over)
3. Connectedness to the world beyond the classroom
4. Substantive conversations - - discussions rich between students - collaborative development of ideas.
5. Social support for student achievement - environment of mutual respect between parents and teachers