When students have the opportunity to work together to solve problems or create an artifact, they are learning through social interactions. According to Dr. Orey, while students are constructing they are engaged in conversations which help them to learn (Laureate Education, Inc., 2010). One strategy where students can use social learning in the classroom is with cooperative learning. Students need to interact with each other and during cooperative learning this interaction enhances their learning (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, & Malenoski, 2007).
This week we learned how technology supports cooperative learning. Technology “facilitates group collaboration, providing structure for group tasks, and allowing members of groups to communicate even if they are not working face to face” (Pitler et al., 2007). Students can use communication software such as blogs and wikis and not be concerned about time of day or where they are located. Other technology strategies to promote cooperative learning are multimedia projects, webquests, web site creation, shared calendars, shared bookmarking, course management programs, and simulation games. All of these strategies are designed to educate collaboratively and encourage students to work together. Social constructivism is apparent in all of these strategies.
Students are social beings, and this is evident with their use of facebook, twitter, and texting. They like being connected with others, and I believe that this is an important segment in learning. In the classroom, we can offer students opportunities to be social learners through technology to expose them to the skills they need for the future.
References:
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010) Program Number 8: Social Learning Theories [Webcast]. Bridging Learning Theory, Instruction, and Technology. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Orey, M. (Ed.). (2001). Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php?title=Main_Page
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
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ReplyDeleteJill,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your comment that students are social beings. If we stop and think about it, we as teachers and adults love to socialize with others as well. I have a FaceBook and Twitter account for my own personal use and I also use email and text messaging to communicate. Considering our personal lives and the lives of students outside of the classroom, I believe it is beneficial to students to be able to communicate with one another but on an educational level.
My district does not allow us access to social networking. For example I cannot utilize my blog for this course at work. However, I have found a blog site for my students and have been able to incorporate it into my curriculum. Students love it because they are able to compare it to the social networking at home. It is evident that everyone loves to communicate in some form or fashion so it should be used to its advantage and be incorporated as a learning tool for our students' education.
Jill~ Truly students (especially young students!) are social beings. We have been using social constructivism ourselves as we have progressed through our class - and it has definitely been an engaging and interesting (not to mention fun!) experience. If we keep this in mind as we work to educate and teach our students, we will be ever more successful as teachers, and hopefully develop lifelong learners in our students.
ReplyDeleteInternet with Web 2.0 is a perfect medium for collaboration and communication. It should work best for our education system than the other purposes since schools have been the medium of communication and collaboration. When a kid started to go to school he/she were facing with lots of other individuals. The difference between school medium and Internet medium is safety. Most probably your district managers are worrying about it. But I believe that the online medium will be safer as much as the school medium in near future.
ReplyDeleteKim,
ReplyDeleteIt seems that many schools are not quite there with social networking. I have found a site where students can use blog, and it is a very safe medium. I approve the posts before they are sent, which I believe helps students to understand the proper way to use blogs.
Jen,
ReplyDeleteIt has been fun and engaging as we interact with each other. I agree that teachers need to engage students though different mediums to promote lifelong learning.
Murat,
ReplyDeleteI know that many schools are concerned with safety as they should be. It is our job to teach our students how to be safe!