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

Agenda: 1) Anticipatory Guide 2) Theory of Social Collaborative Learning 3) Values Line-Up 4) Practice Group Work 5) Gallery Walk 6) Debrief 7) Evaluation 8) Certificate Ceremony

Do Now: Anticipatory Guide An anticipatory guide is an activity used to activate students’ background knowledge Can be used as diagnostic tool Low stakes form of interacting with content Complete the Anticipatory Guide on Social Learning independently.

Values Line-Up Helps students explore their own beliefs Physically 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 role Facilitator, 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 Nicarag üense-Norteamericano English Language Fellow Nicaragua