Group+1

=Social Development Theory (Vygotsky)=

Person 1 (Kaci):


 * Introduce and describe the theorists' contributions to the theory

Vygotsky emphasized unique foundational concepts while developing this theory. He made it apparent that a learner's culture shapes the way they learn in addition to that individual's unique learning style as well as the strategies they adopt to develop deeper levels of understanding and knowledge. Vygotsky believed that mental processes exist between and among people in social learning settings, and that from these social settings the learner moves ideas into his or her own psychological realm. The way information is made concrete by an individual depends on whether it was within a learner's **ZPD** (zone of proximal development), which can be thought of as the range of knowledge that may be out of reach from a person to learn on their //own//, but it is reachable if the learner has support of a peer or **more knowledgeable other**. This type of support was coined scaffolding because it was similar to the temporary framework used for the construction progress. This support aids the learner's development by moving information from the social level to the individual’s.This transference can be defined as the "mechanism by which individual beliefs, attitudes, and goals are simultaneously affected and affect developmental practices and institutions" (Forman & McPhail, 1993, pg. 134) or simply, semiotic mediation. **Semiotic mediation** entails interaction through language but also through graphs and charts, pictures, and/or actions. Language, visual aids, and actions are considered the instruments of mediation. **Social interaction** is essential for this type of mediation. The community and cooperation of learners is affected by not just the culture the teacher creates, but the aggregated culture of the members of the classroom inside or outside the school environment. From his perspective, Vygotsky viewed learning as being dependent on the learners (working within their ZPD), the social interactions in the classroom, and the culture within and beyond the classroom.

>> media type="custom" key="7095985" Person 2: Kyle W
 * Main characteristics of the theory (described above):
 * Semiotic Mediation
 * Social Interaction
 * The More Knowledgeable Other
 * ZPD (Zone of Proximal Development)
 * Explain the strengths and weaknesses of the theory
 * Strengths:**


 * **social development theory challenges the traditional teaching method and studies now show that strategies based on the social development theory are far more effective than other instructional strategies**
 * Allows the child to develop skills they will use on their own
 * Independent Problem Solving
 * Children are naturally curious which makes this theory very affective
 * Focuses on the connections between people and the sociocultural context in which they act and interact in shared experiences (open communication between a student and his/her peers)
 * Guidance comes from teachers/caregivers
 * Allows for students to reach new heights. I.E. scaffolding allows for a student to learn without even realizing it
 * Students actively "play" (model behavior after others)
 * Has teacher working in partnership with his/her students
 * Classroom becomes a community (working environment)
 * Recognizes importance of **human evolution**


 * Weaknesses:**
 * For effective instruction you need **attention**, **retention**, **reproduction**, and **motivation**. All of which may be inaffective to some students.
 * Requires observation
 * Requires social interaction (speech, writing)
 * Students decide how much they learn. Requires active student involvement.
 * Training for teachers
 * Not accepted by mainstream psychologists and teachers
 * Requires Trial & Error

Vygotsky was a strong activist of social interaction among students, teachers, friends, and family. He believe that interaction among other allowed kids to gain knowledge. In other words children learn on their own through experiences.
 * Explain how the theory is associated with either direct instruction or constructivism
 * Constructivism-** theory of knowledge that argues that humans generate knowledge and meaning from an interaction between their experiences and their ideas

media type="custom" key="7216633" [Constructivism in the Classroom]



Person 3: Chelsea


 * Provide at least one example of how technology can be integrated into classroom instruction that uses your learning theory. What would this classroom look like?

Since the social development theory suggests peer work or peer help, cooperative learning is perfect way to integrate this theory into the classroom. Cooperative learning is working students in small groups of all different levels of ability to improve an understanding of a subject or topic. We can teach this cooperative learning and add any technology to it for any grade level. Examples:
 * In a high school classroom, smalls groups within the class can work together to create a PowerPoint to present to the class. They can use a Wiki and/or email to communicate with each other to complete the project.
 * In a middle school classroom, each small group could be given a laptop to explore and “Google” information on a topic given to them, and then present the information found online through a Word document on the Smartboard.
 * In an elementary classroom the teacher can have rotating stations using technology. Each small cooperative group can move to each learning station as directed. Some of the stations could include the students playing/using CD-ROM games or encyclopedias on computers in the classroom and also using the Smartboard to play educational games.

This video contains useful technologies to use in the classroom that you can use with cooperative learning. For example, teachers can suggest using Wiki, blogs, or facebook to create study pages/groups online for the students. It also mentions internet tools that can be used in the younger grades, as mentioned above.

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When working in cooperative learning groups, the classroom desks could be moved in a way that the students can easily work together. Here is an idea:

media type="custom" key="7219925"

Person 4: (Bill)
 * || [|w.andrews71] ||
 * What would the instruction look like? Include the targeted grade level. What are the goals for instruction? What would the technology integration look like?

For the target group of secondary education, a classroom using Lev Vygotsky's Social Learning Theory would look unlike the typical classroom. In, what is considered the typical classroom in the United States, the students are set up in such a way that promotes learning through recitation teaching. Scaffolding, reciprocal teaching and guided instruction are some types of strategies that implement Vygotsky's theory. Scaffolding is a temporary supportative structure that the teacher creates to assist a student to accomplish a task that they could not complete alone. Reciprocal teaching is an instructional tool used to teach a subject such as reading, where students take turns being the teacher for small groups. The teachers role is merely to clarify or ask questions. Guided instruction involves the teacher and students exploring a subject as math together and then sharing different problem solving techniques in an open dialouge. Using Vygotsky's methods the seating arrangements would be in small groups allowing for social learning and group work. Collaboration is a very strong premise behind Vygotsky's Social Learning Theory. Through Vygotsky's theory learning is done not only through the teachers but through peers that have a greater understanding of a certain subject. The goals for instruction, Vygotsky's theory, is to allow the students to collaborate together with limited teacher guidance to create and develop their own means of learning. A teacher can give an assignment with virtually unbounded guidelines and allow the students use their own creativity and originality to design the particular project. There are may types of technology that can be integrated into this type of classroom setting. Wikispaces can be used to track the communications between the group members, concept mapping software can be used to show how one item within the project relates an ties in with another, podcasting and music software can add originality to an otherwise stagnate project, and so on. The technology that is available for students to integrate into their projects and for the teachers to incorporate into their lesson plans and teaching methods are only limited by the creativity of the teachers and students

Writing should be clear, well organized and contain no grammar or spelling errors Project should take advantage of the available wiki features: several linked pages, links to outside websites and images Collaboration should be made evident. Use the discussion tab on the main page to "discuss" your work. If you send emails, please cc the instructor.

[] [] www.learning-theories.com @http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/intech/cooperativelearning.htm [] []