ELIZABETH SMITH ENGLISH LANGUAGE FELLOW The Social LearningTheory: Effective Group Interactions for...

ELIZABETH SMITHENGLISH LANGUAGE FELLOW

The Social LearningTheory:

Effective Group Interactions for Language Learning

Agenda:

1) Anticipatory Guide2) Theory of Social Collaborative Learning3) Values Line-Up4) Practice Group Work5) Gallery Walk6) Debrief7) Evaluation8) Certificate Ceremony

Do Now: Anticipatory Guide

An anticipatory guide is an activity used to activate students’ background knowledge

Can be used as diagnostic toolLow stakes form of interacting with content

Complete the Anticipatory Guide on Social Learning independently.

Values Line-Up

Helps students explore their own beliefsPhysically arrange themselves on a

continuum

Values Line-Up 1= Strongly Disagree 10= Strongly Agree

It is difficult to promote speaking in my class.

Using group work in my classes becomes unmanageable.

Learning occurs when students are listening directly to teachers.

Social interaction is the primary cause for language development skills.

What is the Social Development (Collaborative Learning) Theory?

Lev Vygotsky, Russion psychologist

Case study of babies and “private talk” Humans are capable of cognitively developing a skill

that they cannot yet hold themselves

Social Development/Collaborative Learning Theory Learn best through social interaction, modeling, and

those who can push our Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)

Collaborative Learning and Language Learning?

Group work = more social interaction

Exposure to peers who have slightly varying ZPD’s Students learning from and teaching one another

Promotes organization, focus, creativity, and teamwork

Practice all four language modal skills (R, W, L, S)

Students more likely to remember content or master a skill taught by peer than by teacher

Tips for Collaborative Work that Works:

Clear Step-by-Step Directions

Time Limit

Each student has a roleFacilitator, Time Keeper, Note-Taker, Writer, Speaker

Use Rubrics to uphold accountability

Practice Group Work

You will be assigned your “task”

Read directions as a group

Assign roles

Work together to create final product

Gallery Walk

Make observations and leave comments on your colleagues’ final products

Positive and/or Constructive Feedback

Please commit to the Gallery Walk in silence out of respect for the group’s hard work

Debriefing/Application

What activities from today could you apply to your teaching? Anticipatory Guide, Values Line-Up, Collaborative

Poster, Mind Mirror, Semantic Map, Gallery Walk

How have your views on the importance of using collaborative learning changed?

What are other possible ways to utilize social learning in the English language classroom?

Questions?

Questions? Comments?

Thank You!

Contact: Elizabeth Smith English Language Fellow

Centro Cultural Nicaragüense-Norteamericanoelfsmith@ccnn.org.ni

English Language Fellow Nicaragua