The instructional strategy Cooperative learning correlates directly with the principles of social learning theories. Cooperative learning can be described as students working together with the purpose of actively engaging students in the learning process. Social learning supports the cooperative learning theory because of the student communication, collaboration, and cooperation with others. Empowering students to be responsible for their learning, contributing for the good of the group, would not be possible individually. This strategy imitates real-life learning by including teamwork and students working independently to contribute their piece to complete the assignment. With this in mind, students can collaborate with different levels of knowledge, experience, and expertise. They can be successful in making meaningful connections to their learning by interacting in a social atmosphere. The technology that I found to support this meaningful learning would be the wiki. I feel this is a good tool to help students work together on a task and be able to contribute their skills. I have not used this with my first grade class, but I am looking for ideas.
Laureate Education, Inc. (2009) Bridging Learning Theory, Instruction, and Technology. Social Learning Theories, Connectivism as a Learning Theory, Spotlight on Technology.
Orey, M. (Ed.). (2001). Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/ Social Constructivism, Cooperative Learning, Connectivism.
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA:ASCD.
Kristin,
ReplyDeleteWikis are awesome, but may be too difficult for first graders. One thing that first graders may be able to do is a simple online discussion like the ones we respond to. You can post a simple question on a blog and have your students each post a reply and the reply to two of their peers. I have found that this often furthers the classroom discussion, gets normally quiet students to participate, and teaches students to communicative positively.
Kristin,
ReplyDeleteI really liked how you said, "Empowering students to be responsible for their learning, contributing for the good of the group, would not be possible individually. This strategy imitates real-life learning by including teamwork and students working independently to contribute their piece to complete the assignment."
In order for our students to be successful in tomorrow's global workforce, they need to know how to effectively collaborate their ideas with others to achieve a common goal. Our goal is to set them up for their future successes and Cooperative learning is an excellent step in the right direction.
Kristin, I understand what you are saying because I love these activities but they are not really age appropriate for my kindergarten students either. Do you have a Smart Board? I've thought about at least doing it on that with the whole group so they have been introduced to it. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteBhandymd,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your suggestion about blogs.
Carman,
First grade is a great place to set our students on the path of being responsible for their learning.
def_aca_bbu,
I do not have a smart board. There are Promethean boards in our school for grades 3-5. There are boards for our primary teachers, however they are sitting in storage. Something about not enough money to pay to install them. I keep asking when we might get them. I would use it daily for every lesson.
I do not have a smart board either. We have projectors that are attached to our laptops and we can show things through that. Our technology department came in and did a retrofit through ALL the schools. So they came in and explained everything and we are able to use it on a daily basis.
ReplyDeleteI think that you are completely right that we have to teach our students how to be able to work in a group. For most of them, they will be doing it for the rest of their lives.
ReplyDelete