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=Barbara Powell-Schager's = =MEDT8484 Research Seminar Wiki =

Proposed topic: Authentic Learning Experiences in the Library Media Center

Introduction
In today’s demanding and rapidly changing world, educators are being held accountable to produce quantifiable academic achievement in their students, while simultaneously imparting 21st century skills and habits of mind in their students. To achieve these goals there is a cacophony of ideas being tossed about as how to best achieve this: authentic learning, differentiated instruction, project based instruction, and problem based instruction. This plethora of terms and methods are overwhelming. After researching the definitions of these terms it becomes apparent that there are recurring themes: 1) learning must be personally meaningful to the individual learner; 2) combining instruction/learning of multiple content area standards is necessary, and 3) the importance of meeting students at their level.

This research project will look at ways to enhance authentic learning experiences and differentiate them through the use of podcasting/vodcasting mini-lessons in the media center. The podcasts/vodcasts would be accessible from the media center’s homepage, thus accessible to students while working on their projects from any of the 20 computers in the media center, or, for that matter, from any other computer at the school or at their home. The purpose of these podcasts/vodcasts would be to meet each individual learners’ needs such that they could review or advance at their own pace.