This week we looked at the idea behind the social learning theory and strategies to work with our students. The strategy that I found to be the most interesting for my students is the idea of the students having a keypal. As I have explained in past posts. I currently teach two learning support math classes. In the one I have six students and in the other I have only one. I have found ways to work with that one student and get him interacting with the other student in his grade level. He is currently not allowed to be in the classroom because of his distractive behaviors. By using the keypals my students would be able to talk to other students in other places; “communication with students in other cities, states, and countries broadens the perspectives of students and challenges them to learn about other cultures” (Pitler, 2007). We are currently working on the metric unit of measurement compared to the measurements that we use in the United States. I feel that it would be good for my student to be able to discuss the differences with other students his age from other places around the world.
This strategy works well with the social learning theory because it allows my student to converse with other students about subjects of interest. Palmer, Peters, and Streetman (2001) explain that cooperative learning is when students work together to "attain group goals that cannot be obtained by working alone or competitively." It is important to allow students to work with other and keypal and programs like it do just that for students. This program shows that “Technology can play a unique and vital role in cooperative learning by facilitating group collaboration, providing structure for group tasks, and allowing members of groups to communicate even if they are not working face to face” (Pitler, 2007). It is important to get students work with on another on things and to allow them the freedom to make mistakes and ask questions. Students also feel a sense of accomplishment when they are able to be the teacher and answers questions for other students.
Palmer, G., Peters, R., & Streetman, R. (2003). Cooperative learning. In M. Orey (Ed.), Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved November 29, 2010, from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2007). Social learning
Keypals sounds like a great soltion for your one student who is unable to interact with his peers within a classroom. Cooperative learning “focuses on having students interact with each other in groups in ways that enhance their learning” (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, and Malenoski, 2007, p139). Keypals does just that! Another great thing about Keypals and similar software/programs is is the application to real life as this is technology that are students are already manipulating during their free time and technology that they will advance during their future careers.
ReplyDeleteErinn,
ReplyDeleteI also explored the Keypals site as well as ePALS because they sounded quite intriguing. But unfortunately since the contentes of the website and the procedure seemed too complicated, I couldn't figure out how to utilize and integrate those kinds of site into my classroom instruction... I hope there is an easy-to-use website like Keypals and ePALS out there so that non-English teachers like me can also benefit from it. Do you happen to know any other but simple website?
Thanks.
Yoshio
Erinn,
ReplyDeleteI think it is great that the one student is given another opportunity to learn the curriculum in a different envirnoment. Usually, the students that can't make it in class are sent to a room with more students with similar issues and as a result, miss vital instruction.
Did he enjoy using Keypals and discussing measurement with other students around the world?
Erika Yee
What a great idea to get a different perspective from another part of the world regarding units of measurement. Do you happen to use any other lessons with correspondence to other countries?
ReplyDelete