Authenticity in learning activities and settings

Abstract

The concept of authenticity in learning activities and settings refers to those activities that comprise the purposeful exercise of culturally derived practices in settings where they are ordinarily enacted. Most often, and contemporarily almost always, the term authentic activities refer to paid work (i.e., occupational) activities; and authentic settings refers to the workplaces in which those activities are enacted, and which act as sites for engaging in and learning the knowledge required for a specific occupational practice. However, students' classroom experiences are also authentic in terms of the cultural practice of educating through school activities and school settings.