Exploring the Social Learning Theory

The social learning theory emphasizes that students learn best when they are actually able to work collaboratively with others and learn from teaching the material themselves (Laureate Education, Inc., 2010).  By doing so, the teacher is ensuring that the students have a better understanding of what the topic is because they will have to thoroughly understand it in order to teach it to someone else.  Furthermore, by having students work together, they are balancing each other’s strengths and weaknesses that might otherwise hinder their learning.  For example, one student may struggle with the research portion of a project but can excel at the presentation of it.  Pairing with a student that is a successful researcher may help them.  This student can also reinforce and teach the other how to do the research, so eventually the skills that child still needs to learn in order to be a successful researcher are being practiced. 

This week, one learning strategy I looked into from UsingTechnology with Classroom Instruction that Works that promotes the social learning theory is cooperative learning (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, & Malenoski, 2007).  In this strategy, students are working together to meet a common goal or objective.  Teaching in the primary grades, it is quite common to teach and have students work in a collaborative environment.  We discuss the strengths and weaknesses we all have as individuals.  However, the people in class are all there to help everyone become successful.  We are all at different levels of knowledge and understanding in a variety of topics, and I teach my students that it is merely a fact of life.  Rather than trying to compete with each other, it is far easier to work together and help teach each other the information we know more of and learn from others what we struggle with.

With the incorporation of technology, this strategy can easily be implemented within the classroom.  Through the implementation of wikis, blogs, and even online programs such as Spiderscribe, students can work together to learn a particular objective.   They can each contribute parts of the project that they have worked on, add their material, and take a look at what others have contributed. 

I have been reflecting a lot lately about how technology will change the way my classroom will look in the near future, particularly with the cooperative learning strategies I incorporate.  In January or February, my entire classroom will be outfitted with iPads if I choose to take on the task of piloting them for my district.  While I’m excited for the opportunity, I have to completely rethink the way I’ve been teaching first grade.  I’m trying to bring about this change while still incorporating strategies like cooperative learning at the first grade level.  I was hoping to utilize Voice Thread in my class quite extensively, however, it is a flash-based program that is not compatible with iPads.  Is anyone familiar with some sites like wikis or Voice Thread that are more simplistic for first graders to use that allow them to collaborate and are non-flash based?

References

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010). Social Learning Theory. Baltimore: Author.

Pitler H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.