Hi everyone,
This is a little sample VoiceThread I put together. (It is not about a problem--more of an idea for how to use VoiceThread.)
http://voicethread.com/share/889670/
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Social Learning Theory--some thoughts
Hi everyone,
Social learning is something I see in and outside of the classroom. I think it may be one of the most authentic approaches to learning. Babies look to parents to learn about the world—they use social referencing to help them make sense of information. I’d see this time and again with my sons—when they encountered something new—an unfamiliar dog—or if they tripped while playing in the playground, they’d look at my face to see my reaction. If I looked upset, they’d become upset—if I was calm, so were they.
People give us feedback about our actions and we adjust our behaviors based on this feedback. We watch others and learn from them.
One of the many strengths I see in cooperative learning is the opportunity for the exchange of ideas, the immediate feedback, and the support or scaffolding it can provide. The social component can also make activities more enjoyable for students—and allow them to develop very valuable interpersonal skills. Few careers today do not require team participation and collaborative problem solving—having these skills will help ensure that students are prepared for the workplace.
I see the social networking sites as really changing the way people communicate. I recall that years ago, before these sites were available, if you wanted to chat with a friend you picked up the phone. If you worked in an office, and got a new job, after a while, you drifted apart from your old office mates. Now, with sites like Facebook, you can keep up with a large number of people, and type a few words to them (something that takes very little time) and you still maintain that connection. You can also share with many people simultaneously through a blog—something which allows you to connect with a large number of people with no more effort than connecting with one person. These sites also encourage people to stay connected with others from other cultures and countries--I think they can help students to develop an appreciation of the world outside of their own experience.
I wonder what others think? Looking forward to your postings.
Social learning is something I see in and outside of the classroom. I think it may be one of the most authentic approaches to learning. Babies look to parents to learn about the world—they use social referencing to help them make sense of information. I’d see this time and again with my sons—when they encountered something new—an unfamiliar dog—or if they tripped while playing in the playground, they’d look at my face to see my reaction. If I looked upset, they’d become upset—if I was calm, so were they.
People give us feedback about our actions and we adjust our behaviors based on this feedback. We watch others and learn from them.
One of the many strengths I see in cooperative learning is the opportunity for the exchange of ideas, the immediate feedback, and the support or scaffolding it can provide. The social component can also make activities more enjoyable for students—and allow them to develop very valuable interpersonal skills. Few careers today do not require team participation and collaborative problem solving—having these skills will help ensure that students are prepared for the workplace.
I see the social networking sites as really changing the way people communicate. I recall that years ago, before these sites were available, if you wanted to chat with a friend you picked up the phone. If you worked in an office, and got a new job, after a while, you drifted apart from your old office mates. Now, with sites like Facebook, you can keep up with a large number of people, and type a few words to them (something that takes very little time) and you still maintain that connection. You can also share with many people simultaneously through a blog—something which allows you to connect with a large number of people with no more effort than connecting with one person. These sites also encourage people to stay connected with others from other cultures and countries--I think they can help students to develop an appreciation of the world outside of their own experience.
I wonder what others think? Looking forward to your postings.
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