The
learning theory for this week, Social Constructivism, revolves around the premise
that students and people primarily learn when they are both actively engaged in
the building of a meaningful artifact AND discussing the building of the
artifact with others (Laureate Education, Inc., 2011). According to Dr. Orey and social
learning theorists, both culture and context are important in building
knowledge and understanding (Laureate Education, Inc., 2011). When students are given the opportunity
to work together in a cooperative learning setting, they share, compare and
exchange information through collaboration and communication, often deepening
the understanding and learning of all members of the group (Pitler, Hubbel,
& Kuhn, 2012). Cooperative
Learning helps students better retain and understand what they are learning through
the social processes of discussion, exchange of ideas and listening to one
another (Pitler, Hubbel & Kuhn, 2012).
A
technology tool that can be effectively integrated into Cooperative Learning opportunities
is the creation of audio and/or video projects. The use of multimedia requires
communication and collaboration among group members as they research, design
and implement their project. The use
of classroom blogs or wikis also gives students the opportunity to share their
thoughts and ideas with one another, and also plan, develop and follow the
progress of a project. Using these
types of tools provide students with a rich learning experience, one in which
they construct while sharing their knowledge and understandings, which supports
social learning theories.
References
Laureate
Education, Inc. (Producer). (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
Pitler, H.,
Hubbell, E. & Kuhn, M., (2012). Using
technology with classroom instruction that works
(2nd ed.). Denver, Colorado: McRel.
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Julie,
ReplyDeleteI find it hard to implement social learning in art class. I don't often do group work because it is hard to create a group artwork because of absences, and who gets to take the artwork home when complete. One thing recently that I have been implementing is "Ask 3 Before Me". This allows the students to discuss questions among themselves and discuss the project without coming up to me and getting an immediate answer. It works very well and the children like it. I often find it gives me ideas to help as well, by listening to how they answer each other's questions. What kind of social music assignments do you do with your students?
I am not an art teacher, but was very into art as a kid and always thought of art as something that is meant to be shared, if even just for the fun of debating the interpretations of a single piece, the purpose of a piece, etc.
DeleteThat said, I would imagine there'd be a lot of emphasis on consistent (throughout the project) peer feedback, on gallery displays with comments/discussions about the pieces, on class discussions about exemplar pieces, games like "guess the point of this piece" or "guess the message" where the class debates and the creator chimes in at the end to clarify... or even a project that changed hands now and then, like a sculpture that started out with one artist as the creator, and then was handed off to someone else whose job it was to either take it in his/her own direction and/or continue what was started (which could be really challening!). Or a group of students doing a practice piece that, for example, demonstrated Baroque elements--maybe something small that isn't meant to be hugely meaningful, but something like "how can the three of you make this shoebox look Baroque in 40 minutes"? Quick exercises like that could be fun.
Let me know if I'm off-track, but I feel like there could be a lot more cooperative learning going on in art classes in a fun way!
Angle,
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, not near enough of them! It is a definite goal to incorporate more cooperative/social learning projects into my curriculum as I continue to make changes and adjustments to my curriculum and work to integrate more technology.
What I have done is projects revolving around groups interpreting pieces of music or developing listening maps that identify instruments and the form of pieces of music.
My list of ways to improve my lessons for in the future just keeps growing! How about yours?
Julie