Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Social Learning Theories Put Into Practice

This week’s resources have been focused on social learning theories. Dr. Michael Orey describes social learning theories as being focused on activities that students are engaged with creating artifacts or interacting with others (Laureate Education, Inc., 2011).  Social learning theories have been and are becoming more prominent in schools with buzzwords such as “collaborative” or “cooperative” learning.

Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works, sites several ways to incorporate technology into the classroom while fostering cooperative learning. One suggestion the authors give is to use multimedia in the classroom. In this situation, students are working together to create a movie and are also involved in cooperative teaching and learning (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, & Malenoski, 2007). The authors explain that students can be given roles or tasks within these movie projects, to ensure students are engaging appropriately and also stress that rubrics are critical for ensuring students understand what is expected of them (Pitler et al., 2007).

Another strategy Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works, suggests is to use web resources in order to communicate with students from other cities, states, and countries (Pitler et al., 2007, p.145). At the Computer-Using Educator’s (CUE) conference in Palm Springs this month, Dr. Howie DiBlasi presented on different sources teachers can utilize for collaboration. You can check out his Power Point presentation on his website. (Click here to get to his website.) Once at his website, scroll down and download the PowerPoint labeled "2012 CUE-Give Kids the World-Collaboration Projects for the Digital Age Classroom."

Lastly, Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works, explains how building a website can be used to foster cooperative learning (Pitler et al., 2007). While the authors walk through specific websites to be used, I think a basic class wiki page would be just as beneficial. The point of this activity is to get students working together to create an artifact that can be shared with the world.

All of these strategies have one thing in common: they require students to work together. Collaboration and cooperative learning allows students to create a piece of work to be shared with an audience. This is how many of us learn today, especially those of us taking online courses, and it should not be ignored in our classrooms today.

Resources:

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2011). Program eight: Social learning theories [Video webcast]. Bridging learning theory, instruction and technology. Retrieved from http://laureate.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=5700267&CPURL=laureate.ecollege.com&Survey=1&47=2594577&ClientNodeID=984650&coursenav=0&bhcp=1



Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.


7 comments:

  1. Do you have students that you believe become distracted from collaborative learning and thus are less productive?

    - Alex Veltz

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alex-

      I find that if the activity is not that engaging, then yes, I find students who are off task. When I am doing collaborative work, I try to ensure the activities require students to actually interact. I try not to have students sit and take notes together. I know, if it were me, I would be bored and would be sure to get off task for a minute or two. I like to do collaborative work for labs and WebQuest activities. Hope that answers your question!

      Danielle

      Delete
  2. Danielle,

    Thanks for sharing Dr. Howie DiBlasi resources, were you n attendance at the conference? I too agree that a basic Wiki or Blog will satisfy this requirement, however, as myself and the students get acclimated to using these I would include some of those the authors recommended such as Moodle and The Global Schoolhouse.

    I am an avid believer of cooperative learning I particularly like to use Think-Pair-Share, Self/Peer Revision, Carousel, and Jig-saw. Of the cooperative learning strategies out there, which do you prefer to use in your class?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was fortunate to go to the CUE (Computer-Using Educators) conference where Dr. Howie DiBlasi spoke! When I get some free time, I hope on posting all of the resources I received from the conference!

      As far as cooperative learning strategies, I am a huge fan of the Jig-Saw activity. I think students learn a lot about getting along with others during this activity and find it beneficial in multiple ways.

      Danielle

      Delete
  3. Danielle, have you ever used any technology like Keypals in your classroom? I think the idea sounds really fun, but I'm not even sure how I would start it. I also don't know how I would tie it in to any of my lessons. If you have used it, I'd love to hear your ideas.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Emily,

      I have not used KeyPals before. There are websites that have classrooms around the world collaborate on projects, such as measuring how fast plants grow. Those types of resources may help you tie it into your curriculum. I know Dr. Howie DiBlasi shared some resources that may help you.

      Danielle

      Delete
    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete