How Does Social Media
Support Social Learning Theory?
There are many ways to use social media to increase
engagement and anchor learning for your students. According to Dr. Michael
Orey, social learning theory originates with Vygotsky. Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal
Development theory supports the need for a “more knowledgeable other.” As class
sizes continue to increase and the diversity of classrooms also increase,
there’s a need teachers to differentiate more and more. With the use of social
media tools teaches can ensure that students can collaborate with either the
teacher, peers, or other people outside of the classroom. Furthermore, Pittler,
Hubble, and Kuhn (2012) recommend several social media tools which help make
learning more student centered, and less teacher directed. One of the social
media tools recommended is called VoiceThread.
VoiceThread as a
Cooperative Learning Tool…
Social media such as VoiceThread allows students to interact
with the content in a way that will help them rehearse new learning to increase
the chance they will remember the content being taught. Cooperative learning activities through use
fo social media increases motivation as well as retention of new learning
(Pittler, Hubble, Kuhn, 2012).
Let me just say that VoiceThread is AWESOME for
incorporating cooperative learning experiences! As part of my course work at
Walden University I created a math tutorial where the student will listen and
view how the teacher uses counting by twos to solve a math problem. By the end
of the tutorial created on VoiceThread the students are invited to comment and
create their own word problems showing how they can apply the strategy of
counting by twos to write an equation. For example, students can comment on
each others word problems to solve them using the count by twos and write an
equation strategy.
My recommendation for
using VoiceThread
·
After creating a login, clickl on MyVoice.
·
Insert photos using Flicker.
·
Record your comments using a pen tool.
·
Leave comments asking questions to get students to
respond using a voice recorded comment and the pen tool.
·
Use the pen tool as you record to support the
learner.
·
Finally, have students respond to each other
after interacting with video or images with voice threads overlaid. It may
sound complicated.
I admit that at first I was extremely hesitant, but I found
the whole process of creating a thread for the first time took only a few
minutes. No stress. No tears.
So, what do you
think?
Please let me know what you think about the VoiceThread I
created. One more note about my thread is that the last pictures on the thread
are for the students to create their own comments incorporating equations,
counting by twos, as well as properties for addition and subtraction. I plan to
project my thread using my Epson and show students the tutorial. Next, I will
have the students go to my link on their devices. Last, I will have students
respond by commenting and creating a word problem using the pictures at the end
of my creation. To summarize the lesson I will share student comments in a
whole-group discussion.
I look forward to hearing how you all plan to use
VoiceThread to incorporate social learning theory.
Help needed…
I would love to be able to insert video to VoiceThread to
have students comment and share, however I am having trouble. I used Convertfiles.com
to change save my video to a Quicktime, however was unable to upload the media.
If anyone has had success uploading video media into VoiceThread, please share.
Thanks for visiting my blog.
Jessie
Resources:
Orey, M. (Performer), (2011). Social learning theories.
[Video podcast].
Pitler, H.,
Hubbell, E. R., & Kuhn, M. (2012). Using technology with classroom
instruction that works (2nd ed.). Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
