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.