Wednesdays of Wonder (WOW)
In education, authentic learning is an instructional approach that allows students to explore, discuss, and meaningfully construct concepts and relationships in contexts that involve real-world problems and projects that are relevant to the learner.
Authentic Learning is part of the District’s Jeffco Generations Vision. Jeffco Virtual Academy middle school students are learning about Generations Skills. Students leave their virtual learning and come to campus one time a week. Teachers lead a Jeffco Generations brainstorming lesson generating activities they could do to meet the Jeffco Generations. In order to accomplish some of the activities, one campus day a month is specifically dedicated to authentic tasks.
Self Direction & Personal Responsibility
Civic & Global Engagement
Content Mastery
Communication
Creative & Critical Thinking
Collaboration & Leading Influence
Agility & Adaptability
WOW #1: The first activity took place on September 12, 2018. The middle school group went to Lair O’ the Bear for Civic and Global engagement and the power of teamwork. They hiked and learned about "Leave No Trace" (Center for Outdoor Ethics). The students had an excellent day and are really grasping the authentic tasks.
WOW #2: Warren Tech Field Trip (the Automotive, Dental Assisting, Emergency Medical, Engineering and Graphic Design programs). Middle school students learned about 28 WT programs, participated in some demonstrations, and were able to ask questions to WT instructors and students. In the afternoon, students worked on a WT Webquest that included a Personal Interest Inventory and connected learning about College and Career Workforce Programs and Readiness to the Jeffco Generations skills. Students also completed Individual Career and Academic Plan tasks. The students were very enthusiastic about the Jeffco opportunities awaiting them in high school! Please ask your student about WT. For more information about Warren Tech visit the Warren Tech Website .
WOW #3: HalloWOWeen!! On October 31st, the middle school participated in HalloWOWeen educational activities. Students produced oozing intestines and created gooey slime to learn more about mixtures, solutions, and chemical reactions. They crafted wicked poetry and participated in team building mummy wrapping competitions. Some students wore a costume and participated in a costume contest. Teachers dressed up as characters from their studies!
WOW #4: We celebrated World Kindness Day by participating in a random act of kindness activity. Students wrote words of encouragement and notes of seasonal cheer to the residents of Arbor View Nursing Home in Arvada. The residents were very thankful to receive kind messages from JVA students!
WOW #5: Skunk Works….what’s that? Middle School students will be taking two VFTs (virtual field trips) Wednesday, December 12th, as a part of our monthly WOW Wednesday program. We’ll travel virtually to Lockheed Martin’s secretive aviation lab (Skunk Works Lab) to take a look at how they are defining the future of aerospace and flight.
Students will also take a second VFT titled “Discover Your Happy” where they’ll learn how happiness affects our physiological and psychological well-being. They’ll even learn how to activate happiness and promote it in others!