Social learning theories greatly influence current trends in education. The increase in cooperative learning strategies in the classroom is greatly influenced by social learning theories. Dr. Michael Orey (2009) states that to create meaningful learning, students need to be actively engaged in creating products and collaborating with others. Social learning theories have greatly influenced the creation of activities and lessons designed to promote cooperative learning in the classroom. In order to successfully promote cooperative learning, both teamwork and individual accountability needs to be enforced within the activity (Glazer, 2001). A variety of technology also provides opportunities for students to work collaboratively within the classroom environment, as well as globally through internet tools and resources.
One technological tool that not only helps develop students’ abilities to collaborate with others, but also develops their ability to interact with others around the world is keypals. Keypals allows students to communicate with others all over the world through a safe, monitored website and encourages students to learn about others’ languages and cultures (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, & Malenoski, 2007). Keypals not only allow students to communicate with others, but many also include project-based learning that is conducted with students all over the world and require cooperative learning in order to be successful within the activity. In order to prepare students for the future, educators need to teach students how to cooperate with others through a global world (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, & Malenoski, 2007). I first heard about the website epals.com earlier this year and am so excited to start integrating this with my own class. Since Ancient Civilizations is such a huge focus in the sixth grade, I thought it would be great for my students to write to other students in some of the countries that we study. By collaborating with these students, my students can have a personal connection to the curriculum that would not be available if not for internet resources. Keypals support social learning theories because this technology tool encourages students to learn with and from others.
I have already thought a great deal about integrating the use of blogs and wikis into my classroom environment in order to promote collaboration and the growth of 21st Century skills within my students. Currently, I have a class blog that students will be in charge of maintaining as a small group so that they learn how to create and maintain a blog. By requiring that students work in a small group, they will soon learn that success and failure will be determined by how well their team collaborates. Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, and Malenoski (2007) state that blogs and wikis allow students the ability to communicate and share ideas as they work cooperatively.
Voice threads are another technological tool that can be used to teach students how to collaborate using internet media. While I am still learning the possibilities of using this tool with my students, I am excited for the possibilities of incorporating content in an engaging way while encouraging students to collaborate with others while responding to teacher created, or student created voice threads.
Incorporating a variety of technological tools into the classroom environment not only supports social learning theories, but also help to ensure that students are not just creating what Dr. Michael Orey (2009) calls “inert knowledge.” Using graphic, web-based tools to learn with others and show acquired knowledge will help students understand concepts in a more memorable way. Social learning theories have influenced many of the technological tools that are available for student use. Because our world is becoming more and more devoted to collaboration with a variety of people, as many opportunities for cooperative learning within the classroom environment will help prepare our students for the future.
References:
Glazer, E. (2001). Problem Based Instruction. In M. Orey (Ed.), Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved on July 20, 2011 from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2009). Program number 9: Social learning theories [DVD]. Bridging Learning Theory, Instruction, and Technology. Baltimore, MD: Author. (2005). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
I love your idea about having students communicate with those that live in the environments you study about. That would be so interesting! Epals seems like a great tool that supports social learning. I discussed it in my blog as well.
ReplyDeleteI have a question about how you work your blog. I created one, but my students are too young to have their own e-mail accounts and I do not want to create all of them log-ins under my e-mail. Therefore, I have them post to the class blog but under an anonymous user and they just type their name in the comment field. How will students post to and manage your class blog?
I am not that familiar with keypals. I agree with you when you say that, "Keypals allows students to communicate with others all over the world through a safe, monitored website." What keypal website do you use? Is there a lot of monitoring that you do when your students use keypals?The more our students collaborate with others and find ideas to help in their understanding, the better off they are. I love that you can find ways to incorporate it into your unit on Ancient Civilizations.
ReplyDeleteHi Heather –
ReplyDeleteThe preparation of our students future is a wonderful aspect to look at. Clearly social learning will be a part of their future and further discussion about its importance regarding how productive students will become if they are versed in this skill is necessary. Collaboration is a growing phenomenon with the tool of technology available at our fingertips. Your ideas for it’s use in the classroom are creative and inspiring.
Thanks for the post
You are absolutely right that social learning theories have influenced the creation of lessons that promote collaboration in the classroom. Cooperative learning is the fad in education. Administrators love to walk into interactive classrooms where students are collaborating with one another.
ReplyDeleteI also have thought about incorporating blogs into my classroom and I plan to use them this year. I will use a blog as way to communicate with students and parents as well as post new and upcoming school events. In addition, i plan to have an interactive page on my blog where students will be required to post their thoughts and comments on books they are reading. I think a blog will be a great asset to my classroom and will make communication between students, teachers, and parents clear and concise.
Christa,
ReplyDeleteI am having the same trouble with trying to figure out a safe way to incorporate a blog with my students without requiring them to have an email. Many of my students already have their own email addresses since I am teaching sixth grade, but I worry about privacy. I know there is a way to set up contacts through a blog, but need to look into it more. If I find a way I will let you know. :) As of right now, I'm still trying to figure it out.