This week, the learning resources discussed the social learning theory as well as the instruction strategy of cooperative learning. I feel that these go hand in hand. I believe that cooperative learning is a picture of the social learning theory in action. Dr. Michael Orey states that the social learning theory is the idea that students should be actively engaged in both constructing something as well as educational conversations with others (Laureate Education Inc., 2010).
The authors of Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works discuss cooperative learning as the idea of students being able to “interact in ways that enhance learning” (Pittler, Hubbel, Kuhn, Malenoski, 2007). The authors suggest using small groups to execute this instructional strategy, and to stay away from grouping by ability all of the time. I feel that especially in a classroom as young as mine, cooperative learning not only enhances educational conversation and collaboration, but social skills as well which are so important at the lower grades.
In the learning resources this week, a suggestion was made to allow students to collaborate and have educational conversations on the internet. This could be done through a site such as epals.com or through a blog or wiki (Pittler, Hubbel, Kuhn, Malenoski, 2007). One idea I wanted to incorporate with my class was blogging penpals. Many of my friends and family are teachers and I thought it would be a great experience for my students to not only learn blogging but to communicate with their class at the same time. I would like to find a class somewhere else in the United States so my students would be able to have conversations that would help them learn about a region that is different from their own. My students would learn to set up a class blog and then send the link to the penpal class. They would then respond back and forth for the remainder of the year. My students would get practice in appropriate use of a blog, writing and sentence structure, and also some geography based on where the penpal class was. I believe that the suggestions for technology use in the learning resources this week were very important and useful because as society progresses into the digital age, more and more doors open to us and our students via internet and other technology.
References
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010). Program eight. Social learning theories [Webcast]. Bridging learning theory, instruction and technology. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Pitler, H., Hubbel, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Denver, CO: McREL
Elizabeth - I like the idea of the "epals" to build on writing skills and incorporate social learning theory. Perhaps you could integrate another step and have your students create a virtual field trip of your community, state, or region depending upon your social studies standards.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth,
ReplyDeleteI have had informal "epals" on different football forum websites that I use, and some turned into stronger relationships than I would have guessed. You really do look forward to their posts and check it regularly just like an email or social network. In fact, I befriended some of them on Facebook. It may be slightly different for your students at a younger age, but I think it supports written communication skills in modern form. I would think it's a super idea for elementary schools, and I wish you luck in finding a partner school.
Mike
Matt- That's a great idea! My students love sharing things about them selves and I'm sure would love putting together things that they find important or interesting about Las Vegas to share with an e-pal.
ReplyDeleteMike- I agree, any kind of written communication at this age is great not only for social development, but basic sentence structure as well. Honestly, it has surprised me this year how many of my first graders have accounts on facebook and use them regularly(I'm hoping with parent help). While I'm not convinced that this is the greatest or most appropriate thing for six and seven year olds, something like e-pals in a controlled environment could really be benificial.
I love your idea about the use of e-pals and I think that my students would love to do something like that. I feel like I would like to offer my classroom as a e-pal classroom, but I have already bitten off a lot this year. I would very much like to explore this opportunity in the future because I think that they will be able to learn a lot and even make some great friendships somewhere else in the country. They will also get some experience communicating with people in a way that they may have to do to a great extent in a future job.
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