This article describes the circumstances, process, and decisions which led to Purdue University's definition of experiential education. The motivation for creating the definition came from a realization that though experiential education was a common practice at the university, it was not visible to nor well understood by university…

A highly authentic learning setting is likely to trigger positive motivational and emotional reactions due to its emphasis on promoting the acquisition of knowledge that is connected and transferable to real-world phenomena outside the learning environment. However, a high level of authenticity is usually accompanied by a high level of complexity…

The past 40 years have been characterized by an ongoing shift in the rationale underlying the use of educational technologies -- an earlier emphasis on efficiency and engagement has been overshadowed by a vision centered on educational technologies' capacity to facilitate authentic learning in the inauthentic school context. However, despite its…

Employers report a shortage of talent for STEM-specific jobs -- and in areas such as health care that require "basic STEM competencies." The reasons are many, including: lack of authentic learning activities in STEM subjects, little time for science in elementary school, inadequate K-12 teacher preparation in math and science content,…