Authentic learning across international borders: a cross institutional online project for pre-service teachers

Abstract

Pre-service teachers, teachers and teacher educators from Queensland, Australia and Alberta, Canada formed an online learning community to inquire into real world issues that are present in today’s diverse classrooms. The learning community used authentic technology tools, authentic discussion participants, authentic topics (e.g., ICT integration, second language learners, cyberbullying and students with special needs) as part of their authentic assessment. A combination of stimulus reading material, further research, video conferencing, face to face discussion and online discussion enabled the pre-service teachers to engage in deep learning in as they questioned, researched and interpreted a range of perspectives as part of the learning experience. From these meaningful conversations, they continued to build a rich understanding of teaching practice by drawing connections between theories, experiences and realities of teaching in contemporary contexts.