Authentic Materials: Implications for Practice

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The Use of Authentic Materials in Adult Literacy Classrooms
Erik Jacobson
American Institutes for Research/CALPRO

Implications for Practice

• Basic skills can be taught with authentic materials
• We should be diligent in research and in finding what works
• Find a balance or place to integrate basic skills in authentic instruction
• Encourage informed use of wide range of materials
• Looking at literacy practices of learners instead of levels
• Teacher training in use of authentic materials in instruction
• Examination within program on what is authentic
• The need to dialog with students about the use of authentic materials in their class
• Creating a library of authentic materials
• Teachers need staff development
• Incorporate more authentic & blend in with other kinds of materials
• Integrate basic skills development with classes that employ authentic material in authentic purposes without undermining/compromising the authenticity of the activity – need for professional development on how to this better
• Not all authentic materials are equal, i.e., some documents may lead themselves to better integration of skills and authentic purposes than others
• What constitutes an “authentic” activity or “authentic” purpose? Does teacher become activity of authenticity based on her/his own experience?
• In California, include lowest level of EL Civics students in the benchmarks & provide appropriate additional assessments at that level
• What authentic materials exist in our own environment that we can use?(this can be a policy decision)
• Legal issues with help with authentic writing (custody letters, tax forms, prison legal appeals)
• Teachers need to incorporate use of internet as a service of authentic research
• Teachers & students need to collaborate in brining in authentic materials, i.e., jury summons, parking tickets
• Do this research at prison
• Find a balance between authentic materials & skills. What skills need to be addressed and use as lead materials
• Develop survey or use survey in our programs
• Survey teachers as professional development
• Include students in development
• Encourage informed use of a wide range materials