Re-Blogging

Learning is a Social Thing

A re-blog of the article

"Building Social Connections Through Discussion for Better Learning"

How else does learning take place?

1. It is a social process that is embedded in relationships
2. Does a baby learn on its own or does it learn through a relationship with another?
3. Research describes relationship learning as “experience-dependent learning” that grows as we gain more knowledge with experience.
4. While we interact with one another or when we “talk story”?
5. Collaboration can produce more knowledge through complex and critical thinking discussion.

Converse with a Purpose

1. The learning environment needs to meet the social and emotional needs of the students before intellectual development can progress.
2. Students need to feel safe to allow for them to share their ideas with one another.
3. Ways to create this safe environment is to create norms, an inclusive classroom, and most important is to provide food and drinks.

Bring on the Collaboration!

1. Collaborative discussion starts with goals.
2. Facilitate the discussion by listening: Who’s talking and who’s not, encourage engagement.
3. Continue the collaboration outside the classroom and foster a community of learning.
4. Make everything relevant to the learner and what’s important to their way of life.
5. Use current events as a catalyst for conversations.

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