This week I explored how social learning theories provide students with the ability to be activily engaged in constructing artifacts and conversing with each other. I have my students spend about half their time through the school year working collabrativly and the other half working indivdually. I feel students have a sence of control when they work collabrativly because they are in-charge of their learning. They keep each other going while understanding that I am their to act as a guide if things start to get out of hand or they have a question that no one in the group can answer.
When students interact with each other, a piece of technology such as a computer, or with the teacher, I feel they are able to retain more information. When they help each other it allows the student to feel good about themselves and it shows the teacher that they have retained the information. Also, this shows the teacher that not only does the student understand, but they are able to teach the information to others in the class and the student has gone above inert knowledge. Using a piece of technology such as the computer, Skype, or a VoiceThread allows the students to not only interact with their peers in the classroom, but with other people across the globe.
References:
Laureate, Education, Inc. (Producer). (2009). Connectivism as a Learning Theory [DVD]. Baltimore, MD: Author
Laureate, Education, Inc. (Producer). (2009). Social Learning Theories[DVD]. Baltimore, MD: Author
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
You made a great point in your comment that cooperative learning takes students one step further in the learning process as they are not only learners, but teachers too. We all become better at our content areas the more we teach, so it makes perfect sense to have students teach what they have learned to increase their understanding.
ReplyDeleteHi Michael,
ReplyDeleteIt's great that you have a class in which you can trust the students to work well with each other. Do you have them choose their own groups or do you normally create them on your own?
You made a great point in saying that you know some students truly understand the material when they can teach others the material. Everyone takes in information in their own way, and when students teach other students, it can really benefit the students learning because things may be explained in a way they can relate to more.
Grace,
ReplyDeleteSince I teach high school I try and leave some responsibility with the students. I allow them to choose their group members. I allow the first group activity to be a lesson for them because most of the time they get with their friends and they realize that they do not get much done or they find that their friend(s) do not stay on task. When the next group activity comes around, they tend to not go with their friends so they can get more worked accomplished at greater quality. If they do try and get with their friends again, I coach them in making a smarter discussion or explain to them that they need to all stay on task.