Connectivism and Social Learning Theories in Practice

Right now, we are in a time where a lot of the world population is communicating via social networks.  I was very excited to explore the idea of connectivism, social learning theories and a variety of instructional strategies that we can implement to improve our student's learning. 

Photo retrieved from: http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=jigsaw+strategy&FORM=HDRSC2#view=detail&id=30F0E56808AEC205D8B394DF9451A20258193CB5&selectedIndex=29

 

Doctor Michael Orey defined the Jigsaw Strategy as a collaborative team in which each member is responsible for learning information and teaching it to their group mates (Laureate Education, Inc., 2011).  Each student is only responsible for a piece of the material that needs to be learned.  I like this strategy because it allows for a substantial amount of material to be taught.  I recently used this method in my computer lab for a research project.  Students' were responsible to research their own material, and then come together with their group to present what they learned.  What I tell my students is when they present their information, they are the teacher and it is their job to inform their students and help them learn the information they discovered.  I also co-teach Reading with a third grade teacher in the morning.  The whole third grade level did this method this past week about Native Americans.  Each class had a different tribe, and students were in groups of three to four researching a topic about their tribe, such as clothing, crafts, etc.  The students then took that information and came up with a way to present.  We video taped each group individually and placed the end projects on the teacher drive.  We then opened and shared each groups presentations in the students own room.  Students had a packet with questions that they were to answer during all the presentations even their own and their classmates.  Students were engaged in this activity, collaborating with others and really focused while viewing the presentations of all the third graders.

Furthermore, this weeks resources discuss using social networks, such Facebook and Webquest.  My school  uses EDMODO, which is social network geared for school.  The learner has the ability to put forth the knowledge they learn with other students.  These strategies are ways students' can contribute to their own informational intake.  In my previous post, Webquests are inquiry activities for students to interact and find information that are web-based (Dodge, 1997).  Students usually get an introduction to the Webquest and are informed of the question.  Next, they research information, explore and come to a conclusion. Then students' share what they learned from completing the task.  For longer Webquests, I have students work in small groups and I use the Jigsaw method.  Students find the answers to their questions and then teach what they discovered to their group.  I think this helps not make the information to overwhelming for some students'.

Photo retrieved from http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=google+docs&FORM=HDRSC2#view=detail&id=6584CBB2496632D9C94DBDD7DE86A2A4061463C2&selectedIndex=1

The last strategy I am going to discuss is Google Documents.  The picture above is hyperlinked to to give an overview of Google DocumentsGoogle Docs is an amazing communication tool.  It is the way the teachers at my school collaborate and share folders.  Though we use it as educators, we do not implement this social learning strategy with the third to fifth grade students.  First, you need an email address, which they do not have and secondly we feel that this took is not appropriate and is above the Zone of Proximal Development (Laureate Education, Inc., 2011).

 YouTube Just Show Me Video retrieved from: http://youtu.be/XtF5TsNx7HI

 

Finally, learning occurs when interacting with peers and, when needed, a more knowledgeable other (Laureate Education, Inc., 2011). The above activities, Jigsaw, Webquests, Edmodo and Google Documents do correlate with the principles of the Social Learning Theory.

References

Dodge, B. (1997).  Some thoughts about webquests. Definition. Retrieved on November 27

            2013 from

http://webquest.sdsu.edu/about_webquests.html 

Edmodo. (2013). Retrieved on November 27 2013 from https://www.edmodo.com/
"How to Share." Google. (2013). Retrieved on November 27 2013 from

https://support.google.com/drive/answer/2494822?hl=en

"Instructional Strategies Online". Saskatoon Public School.  (2004-2009). Retrieved on

November 27 2013 from http://olc.spsd.sk.ca/DE/PD/instr/strats/jigsaw/

Laureate Education, Inc. (Production). (2011).  Program eight: Social learning theories.   

[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

Photo and Video Credits

Photo of Jigsaw retrieved from

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=jigsaw+strategy&FORM=HDRSC2#view=detail

&id=30F0E56808AEC205D8B394DF9451A20258193CB5&selectedIndex=29

Photo of Google Docs retrieved from

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=google+docs&FORM=HDRSC2#view=detail&id

=6584CBB2496632D9C94DBDD7DE86A2A4061463C2&selectedIndex=1

You Tube Just Show Me Video.  Retrieved on November 27 2013

from http://youtu.be/XtF5TsNx7HI