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Welcome to this first post in a series that promotes PBL and 21st Century LEarning through the examination of Seven Building Blocks. In this first post, I would like to build the idea of why Authenticity is so important in any deeper learning experience.

Alan November article covers: Did the assignment build capacity for critical thinking on the web? Did the assignment develop new lines of inquiry? Are there opportunities for students to make their thinking visible? Are there opportunities to broaden the perspective of the conversation with authentic audiences from around the world? Are there opportunities for students to create a contribution (purposeful work)? Do students own their learning?

A detailed discussion on the merits of inquiry learning that includes an introduction, authenticity, deep understanding, performances of understanding, assessment, appropriate use of technology, connecting with peers, student success and ethical citizenship. The blog is not active.

Filmed July 2009 at TEDGlobal 2009 Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The danger of a single story. Our lives, our cultures, are composed of many overlapping stories. Novelist Chimamanda Adichie tells the story of how she found her authentic cultural voice - and warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding.

After listing as many Australian Indigenous representations in the superhero worlds, I noticed that many of the early characters' powers are connected to the conceptual 'Dreamtime'. Although this is presented in different ways, it's often done using separate dimensions within the extended comic multiverses. Very little have any mention of actual Aboriginal nations, and do not seem to have had much research or thought towards any level of authenticity. However, the more recent characters appear to have had much more understanding put into these characters; their origins, and their characteristics. But sadly, very few entries here are designed by Aboriginal artists or written by Aboriginal authors themselves, but given the positive development from the 1980s to today, hopefully this is something we will see more of in future.

"Here are six handpicked examples of digital storytelling where we believe great writing is combined with great imagery to create authentic content, and a brilliant digital story." A selection of interactive documentaries that reflect literary non-fiction. Target audience is adult and senior secondary.

"As a school librarian collaborating with classroom teachers is a key component to our role in the school community. Collaboration can come in many forms, but the goal is to move past just the curation of resources. The focus is on connecting the library and classroom curriculum to provide authentic learning opportunities for students. Below is a mini-project that was developed alongside the third-grade teachers to teach figurative language. "

"To develop understanding of a topic or subject area, one has to experience and engage in Authentic Intellectual Activity. That means solving problems, making decisions, and developing new understanding using methods and tools (Ritchhart, Church & Morrison, 2011). Exploring a range of Thinking Pathways allows teachers and students to move beyond surface learning that focuses on the memorisation of knowledge and facts, to more deep and reflective learning that is focused on developing understanding through more active and constructive processes."

"Make Instruction Transparent for Students For innovative practices like Authentic Learning Experiences, PBL, Design Thinking, and STEM/STEAM, it's important to bring learners inside the instructional circle. This is the traditional space of teachers. It's like learning the magic tricks of the magicians. This approach may put magicians out of business, whereas the work of teachers improves and elevates in quality because students understand what's behind the wizard's curtain."

"Apps and other digital tools should minimize complexity while prioritizing the authentic connections that are central to learning."

Mirrors, Windows Doors (MWD) is ann online magazine whose aim is to draw attention to the riches of children's and YA books from across the world that highlight cultural and multi-cultural diversity. MWD promotes authenticity of voice, and writing that increases empathy through reading about different experiences within different cultural contexts - maybe next door, maybe across the globe - whilst tapping into a common bond of humanity and shared emotional response. MWD is a resource for librarians, teachers, parents and carers, as well as teens, who want to find out more about the kidlitosphere from a global perspective.

"Reading aloud daily demonstrates a commitment to literacy in an authentic and nonthreatening way. When students see teachers sharing literacy in this way, it allows them to simply enjoy a good book. Too often, children view reading as an arduous task because teachers have coupled reading with comprehension questions at the end of each chapter."

Teaching Channel link to a range of videos for ideas and inspiration in teaching STEM that include a lesson objective and some focus questions.

One reason PBL might be hard for some teachers to start is that there's just so much stuff out there about it. Who has time to wade through it all? To solve this problem, I went out in search of the clearest, most authoritative information on PBL and put together a collection of materials that will help you get your feet wet, plus links to more resources for when you're ready to dig deeper.

Everybody loves stories, no matter if we are hearing them or telling them. Exploring digital storytelling in your classroom connects students to an age-old practice in an entirely modern way. Below are 6 different reasons digital storytelling is an activity worth pursuing in class. We've also suggested a few tools to accompany you and your students on those fulfilling journeys.

"When educators employ critical thinking in their classrooms, a whole new world of understanding is opened up. What are some reasons to facilitate critical thinking with our students? Let me begin:"

"With the growth of the 21st-century learning movement, many educators now look to the 4C's framework for the skills that are most important for student success. As opposed to the 20th-century 3 R's framework that purported reading, (w)riting, and 'rithmetic as the three most important skills for students to know, the 4C's indicate communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity as the principal components of a 21st-century learner."

"We all can agree that one of the most rewarding experiences in teaching is helping that one student find their voice and take a commanding role to contribute to the classroom learning experience. Allowing students the opportunity to engage in discourse that involves externalizing, elaborating on their thinking, and receiving feedback will lead to construction of their knowledge and understanding of a topic. However, these discussions require students to have authority and command over their own thinking to reconstruct ideas and concepts based on their previous knowledge and existing schemas."

What demonstrates engagement in learning activities? Based on research the following interrelated elements when designing and implementing learning activities can increase student engagement behaviourally, emotionally, and cognitively, thereby positively affecting academic achievement.

"Contemporary learning frameworks and related methodologies can learn a lot from what we are experiencing with Covid-19. Applying the two features above to project-based learning (PBL) by using a more fluid rather than static, linear model may best prepare students for what the future of learning and work actually looks and feels like."