The Center for Authentic Intellectual Work
Promotes instructional and assessment reform to advance excellence and equity in student learning.
Compared to the typical work of students in school which often seems contrived and superficial, the intellectual accomplishments of adults in diverse fields seem more meaningful. As a short-hand phrase that signifies the difference between the intellectual accomplishment of skilled adults and the typical work that students do in school, we refer to the more complex adult accomplishments as authentic intellectual work.
News
In September 2007, the Iowa Department of Education (DE) began the Authentic Intellectual Work (AIW) project of professional development with high school administrator and teacher teams to enhance the intellectual quality of student work in Iowa schools.
IDE has now published the findings. For the full report, please visit IDE's Evaluation of Authentic Intellectual Work
Congratulations to Mike Swartzendruber, named IA Elementary Principal of the Year. In the May edition of Linking and Learning Leadership, he speaks highly of AIW as a catalyst for the learning development in his building.
Over the past several weeks, the Iowa Department of Education believes over 2000 educators met in a variety of regions to collaborate on their Authentic Intellectual Work (AIW). While this is the fifth Mid-year Institute, it is the first one entiriely run by Lead Iowa AIW coaches in collaboration with hosting districts and Area Educational Agencies (AEAs).