I believe that students do learn through social learning activities and that many of these learning opportunities provide for meaningful and memorable learning. I do not know that this is the best practice for all students, but there is a time and place for everything. There are students that need to have the opportunity to learn through cooperating with others while there are some that need to be provided the opportunity to explore on their own. There are moments where information needs to come directly from the teacher, while there are others where a better learning opportunity would be for students to conduct their own search for answers. However, the learning posiblilities provided by social learning activities are amazing.
The strategies presented this week provide students with opportunities to learn using technology, work in learning communities, learn from each other, build social skills, and skills needed to be successful in the 21st century workplace. All strategies allow for students to learn in through engagement in activities. Multimedia projects using rubrics and roles for groups allow for students to use technology in a meaningful way while taking responsibility for their own learning and the learning of others. When roles are assigned, this requires that all students are active participants in the learning process. Students must complete the research and share their learning to ensure the success of the entire group.
Web resources such as the JASON project have brilliant possibilities as students have the ability to work and conduct research with real researchers as they explore numerous areas of science (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, & Malenoski, 2007). Students learn the power of collaboration and teamwork while learning responsibility. Kim (2001) states, "People create their own meaning through their interactions with each other and the objects in the environment." This activity is allowing for student to communicate with professionals in the field while viewing what they are studying in real time. The use of technology is allowing students to "visit" a place they may never have the opportunity to see.
I enjoy the concept of WebQuests. While I have only used a WebQuest for students to learn about the history of newspapers, I would like to implement them in order for students to build background knowledge or explore a concept they have come across in a story. The opportunities are endless. Students may collaborate in groups created by the teacher or organize themselves by interest if the opportunity arises. Students may use the information collected to create product to be shared. This social interaction is helping to create a "fun" learning experience that students are likely to remember, making the information learned also memorable.
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
Are you there, God? It's me, Margaret.
13 years ago
Cooperative learning is a very important component when doing classwork because many students are better at understanding the materials taught when working with other students. I have students who always said that they understand the lesson better when we do group projects to implement the new skills. When students work together and they're each responsible for a different role; this helps them search and learn about their role and fully understand it in order to transfer their information to others.Moreover, sometimes students are able to understand things better when they're being taught to them by students who are at the same age. I think that cooperative learning should be a followed task in every classroom and as often as possible.
ReplyDeleteI think that students do learn best when they are having fun in a creative learning environment. I think that when students become teachers to their peers they remember things better and are more invested in the outcome.
ReplyDeleteSusan