Seven disciplines.
Passion at the center.

What does authentic mean?

Out of the many educational theories and practices that exist today, can we extract general principles into a practical model of education that centers on meaningful real-world contexts? Perhaps the best adjective to describe such a "theory of everything" in education would be "authentic," originating from the Greek word "authentikos" meaning "original, genuine, or principal." This Greek term is derived from "authentes," which refers to someone acting on their own authority, combining "autos" (self) and "hentes" (doer, being).

Thus, it conveys the sense of something being genuine or carried out with original authority. In other words, the term "authentic" signifies something that is "worthy of trust, from an undisputed origin, and executed in a manner to produce effectiveness." The 1828 Noah Webster's American Dictionary of the English Language defines authentic as: "1. Having a genuine original or authority, in opposition to that which is false, fictitious, or counterfeit; being what it purports to be; genuine; true; applied to things; as an authentic paper or register.

2. Of approved authority; as an authentic writer." Authenticity refers to a trait of personality recognized in psychology, existential psychotherapy, existentialist philosophy, and aesthetics. Within existentialism, it describes how closely an individual's behaviors align with their own values and aspirations, even in the face of societal norms and pressures pushing towards conformity.

Relationships, experience, and purpose

Authentic education (system-level) has at least three levels of practical implementation including authentic administration (administrator-level) and authentic teaching (teacher-level) with the goal of authentic learning (student-level). All levels focus on the creation of an "authentic learning environment" that fosters "authentic learning experiences" which is a process that usually begins with "authentic relationships." Authentic learning is connected to the real world and happens naturally as a byproduct of living and accomplishing goals. It can be said that all learning was once authentic and we need to return to this classical education. Authentic learning is an umbrella term covering more specific types of learning such as situated, experiential, high-impact, Montessori, place-based, service, immersion, inquiry-based, collaborative, project-based, problem-based, case-based, simulation-based, discussion-based, story-based, and more.

Some of the main characteristics of educational authenticity can be organized into Planning, Progress, Partnership, Implementation, Inspiration, Integration, Evaluation, Expertise, and Expression (PIE) in the categories of Genuine Design, Purposeful Guidance, and Structured Communication (GPS). A good litmus test for authenticity would involve asking a student why they are learning something. If the learning is authentic, a student should always know why they are learning a particular concept since it is naturally embedded into a meaningful, real-world context that creates unquestionable purpose. For example, you can research how to build a deck for the next month. Learning may take place, but it is not authentic unless you are actually involved in designing and/or building one, favoring a "learning by doing" approach. Authentic learning builds 21st century skills such as collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, problem solving, adaptability, global awareness, information literacy, leadership, citizenship/social responsibility, effective oral and written communication, technological literacy, and initiative.

Seven connected disciplines

Dr. Lyon's new Authentic HAMSTER Education framework focuses on both curriculum and instruction. HAMSTER is a progression from the more common STEM, STEAM, and STREAM acronyms. The seven fundamental disciplines of Healthcare, Art, Mathematics, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Religion rotate like a hamster wheel to illustrate learning as a continuous and lifelong activity with blurry lines between disciplines. Seven is a number of divine completion, wholeness, and perfection relating to the days in a week, continents on Earth, colors in a rainbow, and more. Importantly, this framework acknowledges that the real world does not neatly categorize itself into disciplines; these are human constructs designed to simplify the complex, transdisciplinary nature of our world into comprehensible cognitive schemas.

• Healthcare is the prevention, treatment, and management of illness as well as the preservation of physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
• Art is the conscious use of the imagination in the production of objects intended to be contemplated or appreciated as beautiful, as in the arrangement of forms, sounds, or words.
• Mathematics is the calculation, measurement, properties, and relationships of quantities as well as logical reasoning and pattern recognition.
• Science is the systematic discovery, construction, and organization of knowledge as a continuous exploration of mysteries in pursuit of predictive and explanatory power.
• Technology is the sum of objects, tools, knowledge, processes, products, techniques, developers, and users emerging from and driving goals.
• Engineering is the application of knowledge and heuristics to iteratively design, develop, and implement products and processes defined by criteria under constraints to solve problems, meet society’s needs, and advance the state of the art.
• Religion is the system of sincere beliefs and behaviors that recognize the sacred which is set apart from society as extraordinary, inspiring awe, and deserving of reverence while establishing a worldview revolving around the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe.

Passion and the rhythm of learning

Passion is the deeply-rooted love for a specific calling that not only fuels intense emotional commitment but also demands the willingness to make sacrifices, embodying the balance between fervor and the conscious choice to "pick up one's cross" for a greater purpose.

At School Alive, we offer an educational experience that transcends traditional paradigms, seamlessly blending our HAMSTER Periods with a Passion Period. While HAMSTER Periods lay the groundwork in Healthcare, Art, Mathematics, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Religion, our Passion Period enriches this foundation, providing students the opportunity to explore and exercise their individual passions. This synergetic approach essentially adds "HARP" to "STEM" — Healthcare, Art, Religion, and Passion dovetailing with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

In Christian symbolism, the harp is revered as an emblem of divine harmony and worship, evoking images of King David and heavenly chorales. Just as the harp creates beautiful music, our HARP complements STEM disciplines, orchestrating an education that is both holistic and heavenly. In this setting, "P" not only stands for Passion but also for Principal, rounding out the faculty roles essential for a vibrant learning community. While Passion is not a fundamental academic discipline like the core HAMSTER disciplines, it is the crucible where students discover their God-given purpose. By exploring varied disciplines through HAMSTER Periods, students identify their passion, which they can then cultivate during the Passion Period. This allows us to "HARP" on the inadequacy of STEM alone, fulfilling our mission to shape a future guided by both 21st-century skills and timeless Christian values.

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