Social Learning Theories and VoiceThread URL

This week I explored social learning theories, which Orey asserts to be students actively interacting with others to construct an artifact (Laureate Education, Inc., 2010a). Cooperative learning is a powerful instructional strategy that encourages collaborative group work to create a final product. Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, & Malenoski (2007) state that cooperative learning can be achieved by promoting face-to-face interaction, both individual and group accountability and skills, and group reflection. Orey (2001) goes on to say that cooperative learning helps students reach group goals that could not be reached individually. Because the entire premise of social learning theories revolves around students making meaning of knowledge by interacting with others, the instructional strategy of cooperative learning fits this learning theory well because of the interaction required to be successful.

There are a number of technological tools that embrace cooperative learning, or social learning theories. One example would be communication software, specifically blogs and wikis. Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, and Malenoski (2007) insist that these types of software can provide another median through which students may communicate and share out ideas to work collaboratively. Examples of popular communication software would be www.blogger.com  or www.wikispace.com.

Another technological tool that emphasizes social learning to achieve a deepened understanding for a topic is a Voice Thread. Jarrett notes that a Voice Thread is images put together, sometimes along with audio or video, in which people can comment on (Laureate Education, Inc., 2010b). The hope is that the creator of the Voice Thread will see the pictures in a new way after reading through the comments left. Because Voice Thread emphasizes the need for interaction to make meaning, it correlates well with social learning theories. Please check out the Voice Thread I created, in which I introduce a problem to my third grade students: http://voicethread.com/#q.b2081843.i0.k0.

Overall, cooperative learning, communication software, and Voice Threads, incorporate interaction with others to achieve or create an end result. Because of this, they correlate well with social learning theories.

References

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010a). Program eight. Social learning theories [Webcast]. Bridging learning theory, instruction and technology. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010b). Program ten. Spotlight on technology: VoiceThread [Webcast]. Bridging learning theory, instruction and technology. Baltimore, MD: Author.

 Orey, M. (Ed.). (2001). Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php?title=Main_Page

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