“To be prepared for the fast-paced, virtual workplace that will inherit, today’s students need to be able to learn and produce cooperatively”(Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, and Malenoski). I’m not so sure I believe this statement or theory is correct in its assumption. I teach business and have seen several promising entrepreneurs lose their entire investments because of what they produced was done cooperatively and then stolen. I have also seen social learning and have been involved in the practice where the entire group was totally wrong and more damage was done as the result of poor interpretation. I am not saying that these theories are totally wrong, but they have their place and should be used occasionally and with a lot of support.
I do however use some technological tools in my classroom that supports the social learning practice and the one I use most is through our schools intranet. This site is open to the students and their family enabling them to receive grades, assignments, post their assignments, and for communication purposes. I also like using wikis, but I am unable to use because of the restrictions placed on our school. Several Native Americans have been victimized using the internet, as has many others have through ignorance, which the community elders now forbid any outside influence resulting from a school activity that may cause a security issue. This seems unfair considering the majority of my students are posting their pictures and personal information on facebook or some other social network.
This is my voice thread address http://voicethread.com/share/2511558/
Resource: Resource: Pitler H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
10 Years of Blogging: Time for a Change and a Book
14 years ago
Monty,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you when you say that the social learning theory needs to be used with a lot of support. The students need to know your expectations for them while they are working in their groups. With my third graders, I assign them jobs to complete while they are working together. This allows them to work together, while completing their assigned job.
It is sad that because of other's bad choices, your school is not allowed to use the internet for educational tools such as wikis.
Great post!
-Sam R.
Monty,
ReplyDeleteSupport in any educational setting is vital. There will always be situations where interpretations of information are incorrect, or people are not trustworthy, and “steal” other people’s hard work. I agree that social learning is not always appropriate or necessary, but it is an important skill for students to learn.
It is too bad that you are being limited in your classroom instruction due to tribal restrictions. Have you tried to do a community outreach on the subject?