Stephanie Platko

Part One       Authentic Intellectual Work stems from the idea that traditional rote teaching and learning practices are antiquated and while they serve a purpose in developing a necessary "prior knowledge base," (Newmann et al., 2007) it's important to recognize that educators who prefer the traditional might be losing their students. Through formulating a curriculum using AIW, these educators could very well be encouraging the critical thinking and problem-solving skills so important to our society. Newmann et al. (2007) states that there are three major criteria involved in lessons designed under an Authentic Intellectual Work model; these criteria are the construction of knowledge, disciplined inquiry, and value beyond school. One thing to note is that all three must exist concurrently because if one of the three criteria is missing, you run the risk of having superficiality ruining the learning process. In differentiating between AIW and the traditional educatio...

          My name is Stephanie Platko, and I grew up in Matawan, NJ. I am a graduate of the Theatre Program at the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign with a BFA in Theatre. After graduating, I moved back to New Jersey and completed the Alternate Route Training program through the NJ Department of Education to receive my teaching certifications in both Theatre and English. I began teaching Theatre and English at Manalapan High School in Manalapan, NJ, where I stayed for two years. I spent one year teaching English at Colonia Middle School in Colonia, NJ, until I was transferred to Colonia High School to restructure their Theatre program. I have been teaching Theatre, Public Speaking, and English at Colonia High School for the last 23 years. I am also the director of their theatre program, which produces two mainstage shows per year plus one student-directed, cabaret-style fundraiser.            I live in Matawan, NJ...