Planning - Real World Learning

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Planning Guide Select where you are in your real world learning journey.

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Getting Started

Set your goals and understand your commitment.

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Finding Partners

Who from the real world will interact with your students?

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Preparing

What do you need to be ready to launch?

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Launching

Connect your students with real world learning experiences.

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Following Up

How will you follow up with everyone after the experience?

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Reflecting

Did you achieve your goals?

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Getting Started

Understand goals and commitments

Find a community event that matches what your students need and is aligned with your curriculum

Write down your vision and identify student learning goals for the event. Use the RWL Activity Planning Worksheet.

Contact your school administration/district to clarify details regarding permission slips, transportation, supervision, and costs

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Finding Partners

Who from the real world will interact with your students?

Reach out to the event hosts to ensure the event can accommodate your students

Request additional information on event to prepare students

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Preparing

What do you need to be ready to launch?

Get permission from your principal.

Arrange transportation

Send and collect permission slips and any other required documentation for students

Do a lesson(s) with students on professional soft skills (see Lesson 17 for an example)

If chaperones are attending, prepare them to be on the same page regarding student expectations and etiquette

Have students research who will be at the event and what will be happening

Ensure students know the dress code and logistics of the event

Supporting materials that can help

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Launching

Connect your students with real world learning experiences.

On your way to the field trip site, check-in with students to make sure expectations are clear and they feel confident

Attend the event

Take pictures and videos to document the event

Monitor the event to ensure students are maximizing their time and having positive interactions

Tips

Encourage students to record people they meet and document interactions. Also encourage them to record observations about the environment. This can be done in small notebooks to debrief the experience.

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Following Up

How will you follow up with everyone after the experience?

Write a thank you note to the organizer if you worked directly with someone

Have students write a follow-up note or email to the field trip host(s)

Tips

Have students write about their experiences and share with the local community or arrange interviews with the local newspaper and media outlets

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Reflecting

Did you achieve your goals?

Reflect on the field trip with your students (see Student Reflection)

Reflect on the field trip yourself (see Teacher Reflection)

Share about the experience with teachers and families

Tips

Share your story. It will help spread good ideas and gain support from others. You can blog about it, share it at a faculty meeting, send out a press release, etc.

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Find a Partner

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Preparing

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Launching

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Following Up

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Reflecting

Find another activity

Find more activities!

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