Cooperative Learning is social learning at its best.
Cooperative learning allows students to work together, share ideas, construct
knowledge, and learn from others. Social
learning is allowing students to be actively engaged in constructing knowledge
while having conversations with others ( Laureate Education, Inc. , 2011). Through social learning, learners are allowed
to interact with others and learn from peers or other adults. Dr. Orey reminded
us that with social learning context and culture are critical in helping
students to construct and understand knowledge about the world around us
(Laureate Education, Inc., 2011).
We are living in a world that is ever changing through the
use of technology and social networking. Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, and Malenoski
(2007) affirmed “to be prepared for the fast-paced, virtual workplace that they
will inherit, today’s students need to be able to learn and produce
cooperatively” (p. 139). As teachers, we must use technology tools and social
networking to help our students learn about the world around us. Using social
networking tools, multimedia, and communication programs allow us to provide
students with opportunities to learn collaboratively together. Pitler, et. al.
(2007) stated “technology can play a unique and vital role in cooperative
learning by facilitating group collaboration, providing structure for group
tasks, and allowing members of groups to communicate even if they are not
working face to face” (p. 140).
I believe that we must help our students use these
networking tools such key pal websites that will allow our students to
communicate and share ideas with others around us is a great example of social
learning in today’s classroom. As we move forward, we must remember that the
world is changing daily and must prepare our students to work and live in a
world that is more connected than ever before. We must give our students
opportunities to construct and share knowledge through online resources, social
networking, and communicating and sharing ideas with others not just the
teacher.
References:
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2011a). Program eight:
Social learning theories [Video webcast]. Bridging
learning theory, instruction and technology. Retrieved from http://laureate.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=5700267&CPURL=laureate.ecollege.com&Survey=1&47=2594577&ClientNodeID=984650&coursenav=0&bhcp=1
Pitler H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K.
(2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works.
Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
Trinecia,
ReplyDeleteThe key aspect that comes into play with social learning is the culture piece. With many of our students the way that they perceive things, or are able to learn, is impacted in a major way by the way that they are cultured growing up. As teachers we have the opportunity to help students think outside the box, and learn things that they will not experience at home normally, or provide them with insights that leaves them wanting to learn and explore non-traditional ideas more. I believe that students are so different from one student to the next, that they have the opportunity to learn so many new things from one another in a social learning environment. In our school there has been this ideology put in place that there is no place for cell phones and Facebook in school, but after attending a seminar on using cell phones in the classroom, my mind was quickly changed. We can utilize social networking to not only help our classroom grow as a learning community, but to connect in a setting where teachers, students, and parents are all able to be a part of the learning process together. The days of students doing assignments, and turning them in for a grade from the teacher have come and gone. Students are now able to share their ideas with peers, and not only receive feedback, but learn from their peers as well.
Brian
Brian,
DeleteI totally agree. How are classroom look today is totally different from just 10 years ago. We must allow our students to learn from one another and use social media networks to help us communicate ideas with our students. It is important for our students to see the value of others when working together. This is where our society is moving towards. Students must learn how to collaborate and work together using social media and collaborative techonology tools to be able to survive in the 21st century.
Thank you for your response.
Trinecia,
ReplyDeleteYou talked a lot about what students will need in order to be funcitoning memebers of our society within the work place. I am constantly telling my students on a daily basis that the skills they are learning will impact how they can contribute to our community when it comes to working. If they cannot get along with a peer in the classroom I will remind them that when they enter the workforce they will have to find a way to work with people they do not necessarily like. Through continued social learning strategies my students are learning how to communicate with those who they do not cosider as friends. They are learning to work with those stuents and gain better understandings in certain areas because they all come from different backgrounds and have a lot to teach each other.
When our students learn to use networking tools and to work cooperatively together they will have half the battle won to be working memebers in our society and communities.
Gayle
Gayle,
DeleteThank you for your response. I can't agree with you more. Social learning and allowing students to learn how to communicate and collaborate together is essential to skills they must have in today's workplace.