Cooperating to Learn: How Social Learning Theories influence the Classroom

The social learning theory focuses on the idea that people learn best through their interactions, conversations, observations and imitations of others (Learning-Theories.com, 2014). Through these interactions students learn social, academic and behavior skills necessary to thrive in society. Cooperative learning enables students and teachers to gain the benefits of social learning. By incorporating cooperative learning strategies into the classroom, students are able to build and navigate networks of knowledge that would not be possible when learning in isolation (Laureate Education, Inc., 2011).  

Cooperative learning allows students to learn in an environment where they are able to explore their ideas through talking and actively listening to their peers while working together to solve a problem or create a project. When students work together to learn, there is an increase of academic engagement and self-esteem as well as a decrease in feelings of loneliness and being left out (Pilter, Hubbell, & Kuhn, 2012). When incorporating cooperative learning groups it is important to keep in mind three key facts:

1.     groups need to be small, ideally 3-5 students

2.     cooperative learning works best when it is consistent and systematic

3.      include both positive group and individual accountability, ideally represented in a rubric before the project begins (Pilter et al, 2012)

Cooperative learning groups and technology can be interwoven to create exciting and engaging learning social learning opportunities. Students can work together to cerate an interactive VoiceThread or short movie to demonstrate understanding on a research topic or to recreate scenes from history or a novel. Creating a website such as a wiki, google sites on sites.google.com, or a Fusion Page on schoolfusion.com is a great way for students to work collaboratively to show learning. As our learning environments become globalized integrating quality web-enabled multiplayer simulation game is a exciting way to allow many people across the world to work together to complete a task or combine knowledge to solve a problem (Pilter et al, 2012).

There are many types of cooperative groups. Some require very little preparation or implementation time while others are more complex in nature. Listed below are a few ideas for incorporating cooperative learning into the classroom.

Think-pair-share: students are paired up to discuss an issue. Each student has time to share an idea, to listen and then to respond to the partner’s idea (Orey, 2001).

Jigsaw: each member of a small group is given a specific task or research topic. The team members then split up and work collectively with other peers assigned the same task as they become experts in their area. Once the research time is up the students gather into their original teams and teach their group members what they have learned (Orey, 2001).

Multi-aged groups: students work together in small age diverse groups (Orey, 2001).

Interactive-Role Playing: students take on the role of a specific character to work though a situation or problem. This helps students to see where multiple perspectives (Science Education Resource Center, 2011).

Check out http://serc.carleton.edu/introgeo/cooperative/example.html for additional ideas on cooperative learning grouping ideas.

Please check out my newest VoiceThread creation entitled Your Mission at

http://voicethread.com/share/5929214/   I would love to hear your comments on how I can improve this video to make it more appealing and relatable.

As always please feel free to share any idea you have on the topic. 

References

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2011). Program nine: Connectivism as a learning theory [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

Learnng-Theories.com. (2014). Social learning theory (Bandura). Retrieved from http://www.learning-theories.com/social-learning-theory-bandura.html

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E. R., & Kuhn, M. (2012). Using technology with classroom instruction that works (2^nd ed.). Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

Science Education Resource Center-Carlton College. (July 27, 2011). Cooperative exercise examples. Retrieved from http://serc.carleton.edu/introgeo/cooperative/example.html