The social learning theories promote learning from others. I really do believe that so much of our world understanding comes from our social interactions. Parents, friends, colleagues and media play a huge role in one's knowledge and perceptions. Cooperative learning, as described in this week's reading, can be taken to a whole new dimension with technology. Students are able to learn from one another within the classroom as well from experts and other students from across the world. The Internet has greatly broadened our abilities to obtain information, especially primary resources. Programs such as epals or intercultural email connections, enables students to learn first hand from other people from across the globe. Within the classroom students can work together to build websites, create multimedia projects, videos, and webquests. Students are able to increase their technology skills as well as their ability to communicate and synthesize information. As students are placed in heterogeneous groups they are able to teach and learn from one another as they complete tasks assigned by the teacher.
On a personal note I think it is important to remember to meter the usage of the cooperative model. Because students come to school with misconceptions, it is important that we make sure that we monitor group work closely so that students are not perpetuating those misunderstandings. The same is true of the Internet. We have to teach our students how to to be savvy consumers of a resource (the Internet) that has no filters or safeguards against false information.
My VoiceThread post is found here: http://voicethread.com/share/1372853/
You make a very important point when you say that the students are able to learn from each other. Our students hear our voices all day. Peer tutoring/teachings is a very effective strategy. Students are able to put concepts and procedures into their own words and share that information with other students in a way that adults are not capable of. Students are also sometimes simply more willing to hear what a friend has to say.
ReplyDeleteYes I agree with you. Students learn from each other. They are learning from each other, working on social skills and also working on their technology skills. They like this and I think also them hearing from a friend like you stated, they like that.
ReplyDeleteI think one of the greatest aspects of this ever-growing technological world is the ability for students to communicate with students world-wide and learn not only how to improve social networking skills, but also to learn cultural backgrounds and become much more well-rounded. Just one of the many ways technology is helping to develop our students as wonderful citizens in society.
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ReplyDeleteSocial Learning