Social learning theories are based on the belief that students actively engage in constructing artifacts in a social setting where students can have conversations that help contextualize the information. According to Beaumie Kim, “individuals create meaning through their interactions with each other and with the environment they live in.” “Meaningful learning occurs when individuals are engaged in social activities.”(Orey, 2001)
Using the strategy “Cooperative Learning” as an instructional tool in the classroom definitely promotes the ideas of social learning. Cooperative learning allows students to construct meaning and knowledge together by working side by side with other students. “By combining teamwork and individual accountability, students work toward acquiring both knowledge and social skills.”(Orey, 2001)
I really liked the two-week movie project that students constructed about a famous mathematician in cooperative learning groups. I really like that the students not only work together to do the research, but they are working together to teach the information to other students. They become the so called experts in the field. These students are creating an artifact in a social setting that will make the learning meaningful and fun for the students.
Orey, M.(Ed.). (2001). Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
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Bryan-
ReplyDeleteI also like the idea of having a student become an expert on the topic then have them teach their peers. We have used this theory in many of my classes and it really seems like the students grasp the concept faster and deeper than when a teach gets up and lectures. I am a strong believer in creating a more student centered classroom and getting away from the old fashion lecturing. Do not get me wrong we as teacher still need to lecture at times but not the whole class time. Do students really want to hear us talk for 42 minutes? I know that when I was sitting in class after the first 15 minutes you lost me if all you were doing was lecturing so why would I want to do that to my students. The two week activity was a great way to incorporate technology while allowing the students to learn in a social environment along with hold them accountable for their research because they have to then turn around and teach the class their findings. Do you plan on using this in your class? And how are you going to adapt it to meet your class curriculum?
It seems that most of the material I have read has been pretty consistent. We like the idea of the students becoming the expert and teaching the lesson. I think it would help at least the students who presented that materail to become an expert. Like the video this week said we learn a lot more when we teach it.
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