Applied academics
Encyclopedia
Applied Academics is an approach to learning and teaching that focuses on how academic subjects (communications, mathematics, science, and basic literacy) can apply to the real world. Further, applied academics can be viewed as theoretical knowledge supporting practical applications.

Definition

Applied Academics is an approach to learning which focuses on motivating and challenging students to connect what they learn with the world they experience and with what interests them. The basic premise is that if academic content is made more relevant, participatory and concrete, students learn better, retain more and apply learning in their lives. Teaching in this model uses hands-on innovative teaching methods sometimes called contextual learning. Teachers help students understand the reasons for studying their subject matter and capitalize on students' natural learning inclinations and problem-solving approaches they can use well beyond the classroom throughout their lives.
Applied Academics is an attempt to break from disconnected learning (where students go to different classes for different subjects for specified periods of time and don't gain a sense of the interconnectedness of learning) that has become a part of traditional approaches to education. This approach attempts to reintegrate learning by doing such things (for example) as teaching math and/or science and/or writing and/or speech within other contexts such as a learning experience dealing with some form of technology training.

Research in Cognitive Science

Research in cognitive science
Cognitive science
Cognitive science is the interdisciplinary scientific study of mind and its processes. It examines what cognition is, what it does and how it works. It includes research on how information is processed , represented, and transformed in behaviour, nervous system or machine...

 has shown that learners are not passive receptacles into which knowledge may be "poured". Learning occurs when the learner constructs, invents,
and solves problems. Studies have shown that students taught theoretical principles, processes and skills in isolation without practice do not transfer these skills and knowledge as well to real life situations. Although "learning to know," "learning to do," and their "application" are often separated, there is no effective learning or understanding of one kind without
the other two.

Relating to the SCANS Competencies

The Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS)
Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS)
The Secretary's Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills was appointed in 1990 by Lynn Martin, the Secretary of the United States Department of Labor. The commission was made up of 30 business, school, union and parental representatives...

 states that "good jobs require people who can put knowledge to work", and listed the knowledge (academics) that it considered critical for all students to possess.
These competencies include:
  • Knowing how to effectively allocate time, money, materials, space, and staff
  • The ability to work on a team, teach, serve customers, lead, negotiate and work with people from culturally diverse backgrounds
  • Understanding how to effectively acquire, evaluate, and use data
  • Understanding and ability to design and improve social, organizational, and technological systems
  • The ability to effectively use technology

Relating to Action Research

The concept of Action research
Action research
Action research or participatory action research – is a reflective process of progressive problem solving led by individuals working with others in teams or as part of a "community of practice" to improve the way they address issues and solve problems. Action research is done simply by action,...

 is related to Applied Academics, as one tenet of action research is to discover theory through practice, and then implement using the foundation of theory.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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