The
social learning theory states that students learn best when they are
engaged socially in their learning. To learn they need to interact
and collaborate with others (Laureate Education, n.d.). This weeks
instructional strategy was cooperative learning. Cooperative learning
fits perfect with the social learning theory.
Cooperative
learning is a strategy where students interact in many different ways
that can enrich their learning. Students can work with
classmates or people in a real-world context to bridge learning and
the real world (Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski,
K., 2007). As you can see, cooperative learning is a social style of
learning in which students interact with each other to learn new
material. I feel that cooperative learning is a major component of
the social learning theory.
Technology
has brought the social learning theory and cooperative learning to a
new level. Technology opens up the classroom to areas that classrooms
of the past could not go to. Students are able to collaborate with
people all over the world to learn new materials. Technology has
allowed students to get involved in their learning and get a clear
answer to why they are learning the material.
I
have included my link to my voice thread for the week. This voice
thread is an introductory to a cooperative learning project my
students will be completing this year.
References:
Laureate
Education, Inc. (Producer). (n.d). Social
Learning Theories.
[Video webcast].Retrieved from http://www.courseurl.com
Pitler,
H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using
Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works. Alexandria, VA:
ASCD
Hi Eric,
ReplyDeleteI like that you mention that technology gives students and teachers the opportunity to connect with people all over the globe. This is something that I have not done in my classroom, but have been thinking about more and more recently. I liked the resources for keypals, and other ways to reach out and connect beyond their own community. In the past, I had my students set up with pen pals in Florida. It just worked out that a teacher contacted my school and was seeking pen pals. So, I contacted her and we did it. I would like to try to do this using technology and connect with students from a different background, in order for my students to gain new perspectives from other cultures. They are not exposed to as much multiculturalism in our district. Technology gives me the perfect opportunity to incorporate that in my teaching.
Thanks for the reminder!
Lisa LeBlanc