An Authentic Learning Experience - The Kittens

The first thing that comes to mind where authentic learning took place is not necessarily the most academic.  I was working two jobs, deciding whether I wanted to continue teaching in the process.  I worked at a non-kill animal shelter, where many litters of kittens got dropped off, some of whom were still nursing and unable to do anything without their mothers.  One particular group had three infant kittens and the mother had freaked out and escaped.  I was shown how to bottle feed the kitties, and of the utmost importance of then taking a warm wet washcloth to stimulate their genitals, as a mother cat would do with her tongue.  The lady modeled this on one of the kittens while I watched.  I then had to bottle feed a kitty and stimulate him.  There was a small “poof” as liquid poo came out, and I knew I had done it right.  I was amazed.  I had no idea before this that mother cats did that.  The idea was that doing this stimulated the kitties body systems to get rid of waste.  Unless the mother cat licked them (or we used a washcloth) the babies could die.  (Internal septicemia / toxicity).  So I took the litter home and had to feed the three babies every two to three hours, and immediately after, stimulate them with the washcloth.  I also had to make sure they were warm and cared for.  This experience was authentic learning for me, because I now know how to care for an infant kitten only day(s)? old - they still had their umbilical cords - and I could teach someone else how to do the same. This lesson is forever embedded with me.


(The Wrap-up)


What does this (authentic learning) mean for my teaching?  This means that my students will ideally be able to go out on a limb with something they’ve never done before, and have success.  They will be able to learn a new skill (any kind) and be able to correctly apply it to their writing or their lives.  I must teach in a way I would want to be taught.  As a teacher,I have to put myself in the learner’s position - do the assignments the kids do, grade myself as I would grade the kids - on a similar scale - learn how I would want to be assessed.  Authentic learning for my students means I have to think outside the box.