Unit 2: Socio-cultural Learning Theories PDF

Unit 2: Socio-cultural learning theories Review of socio cultural learning What is socio- cultural learning theory? The Sociocultural Learning Theory is based upon the idea that a learner's environment plays a pivotal role in his/her learning development. According to Vygotsky the l...

Unit 2: Socio-cultural learning theories Review of socio cultural learning What is socio- cultural learning theory? The Sociocultural Learning Theory is based upon the idea that a learner's environment plays a pivotal role in his/her learning development. According to Vygotsky the learning process actually involves three key themes: culture, language, and the “zone of proximal development”. Lev Vygotsky, a Russian psychologist, introduced the Sociocultural Learning Theory. His quote that “through others we become ourselves” could be the quintessence of the Sociocultural Learning Theory, which supports that learning is a social process. Examples of Sociocultural Theory They need to be with people to learn how to use A child can't learn many Individual persistence can language.... People differ things without society like help the person acquire according to their language skills. new skills and knowledge. cognitive development and their interests. The major theme of Vygotsky’s sociocultural Vygotsky’s theoretical theory of human learning framework is that social describes learning as a interaction plays a social process and the fundamental role in the origination of human development of cognition. intelligence in society or Vygotsky believed culture. everything is learned on two levels. contd First, through interaction with others, and then integrated into the individual’s mental structure. Every function in the child’s cultural development appears twice: first, on the social level, and later, on the individual level; first, between people (interpsychological) and then inside the child (intrapsychological). This applies equally to voluntary attention, to logical memory, and to the formation of concepts. All the higher functions originate as actual relationships between individuals. (Vygotsky, 1978, p.57)  A second aspect of Vygotsky’s theory is the idea that the potential for cognitive development is limited to a "zone of proximal development" (ZPD). This "zone" is the area of exploration for which ZPD the student is cognitively prepared, but requires help and social interaction to fully develop (Briner, 1999). contd A teacher or more experienced peer is able to provide the learner with "scaffolding" to support the student’s evolving understanding of knowledge domains or development of complex skills. Collaborative learning, discourse, modelling, and scaffolding are strategies for supporting the intellectual knowledge and skills of learners and facilitating intentional learning. The tools for the Sociocultural Learning Theory The Sociocultural Learning Theory is based upon the idea that a learner's environment plays a pivotal role in his/her learning development. According to Vygotsky the learning process actually involves three key themes: culture, language, and the “zone of proximal development” Review of Vygotsky cites three methods which are used to teach children the role of skills. These tools are imitative learning, tools, instructed learning, and collaborative learning. knowledge, A central tenet of Vygotsky's studies is that children learn activity & behavior and cognitive skills by dealing with more experienced community people, such as teachers or older siblings, using one or more of (in these three learning methods.2 Vygotsky goes on to explain that changing in order for the sociocultural theory to work, you need four practice) basic principles. The 3 Key Themes of The Sociocultural Learning Theory Culture Vygotsky suggested that cultures are actually formed through the use of tools and symbols, and that this key distinction is what differentiates the human race from that of animals. Intelligence is achieved when a learner can “internalize” the tools that are being provided in the culture itself. When the tools of a culture evolve and emerge, the learners’ ability to grow as individuals and increase their knowledge base is broadened. As such, according to the Sociocultural Learning Theory, it's important for instructors to understand the human mind from a historical point of view as well as a cultural one. Language According to the Sociocultural Learning Theory, language is a direct result of the symbols and tools that emerge within a culture. An individual is able to learn language through a variety of social events, scenarios and processes, which all result in the acquisition of language. This aspect of the Sociocultural Learning Theory relies upon the idea that learners go through three stages of speech development. First, they must engage in the social environment, which is known as “social speech” and begins at the age of 2. Next, they will learn about “private speech”, which occurs when learners voice their thoughts aloud, and begins at the age of 3. The last is “inner speech”, which takes the form of ideas that remain within our minds and directly impact our behavior or thoughts, and begins at the age of 7. Language contd. Language is crucial for this ability to recollect information, and is also one of the major building blocks of our cultures and societies. It is language, many believe, that elevated humans from a primitive species to a one that would one day dominate the world. With the sociocultural approach in mind, researchers have begun to look over the course of human history to see how language has shaped and defined entire societies. Zone of Proximal Development This is the “gap” or distance that exists between a learner's possible educational development, which is determined through problem solving activities, and the development that actually takes place. This is assessed when learners are asked to engage in problem solving tasks under the supervision of an instructor. Their responses and capabilities are then compared to that of their peers. This assessment is based upon a spectrum, wherein what learners are capable of doing without any assistance is at one end of the spectrum, and what they can do while being assisted is at the other. In essence, the zone allows instructors to learn what a student is not yet capable of doing or has not yet learned, but can be taught with the proper instruction. ZPD process ZPD contd. This terms refers to the activities and environment that more knowledgeable people may provide to someone younger, in order to assist their cognitive abilities. Such people may include parents, caregivers, teachers and older siblings or peers. Scaffolding may include playing games, role playing, singing (to encourage language acquisition) and other social situations where cognitive abilities may be nurtured. Sociocultural approach A common method of explaining what makes and defines us as individuals is the application of sociocultural approach. This approach emphasizes the influence of the society that we living on our learning process. According to the sociocultural approach, cultural factors such as language, art, social norms and social structures can play a significant role in the development of our cognitive abilities. 1 He proposed that interactions made by children can shape and influence both the way in which they perceive the world and their cognitive processes. The way children learn and develop varies from culture to culture and is sometimes specific to each individual society. While the resulting cognitive processes may be unique to each culture, the way in which they are handed down from generation Applying The Sociocultural Learning Theory The Sociocultural Learning Theory also takes into account how learners are impacted by their peers, and how social scenarios impact their ability to acquire information. As such, instructors who apply the Sociocultural Learning Theory in their instructional design can also become aware of how learners may directly impact one another, as well as how cultural “norms” can influence a learner's learning behavior. They can then create an eLearning course plan that integrates the principles of Sociocultural Learning, in order to enhance the effectiveness of the curriculum. How does socio cultural factors influence development? Socio-cultural factors influence development by providing it with a social context.... The variable experiences of individuals during their development are dependent upon their social and cultural backgrounds. These factors include the conditions at home, the quality of schooling, and interaction within peer groups. Why is socio cultural context of students important for considering curriculum? To achieve better results in students' learning process it is necessary to consider their cultural background, but also to benefit from their cultural differences. Students, who follow lessons in culturally diverse class, can learn that there are many solutions and perspectives on the same problem or topic. How schooling is a socio cultural process? Aspects of the physical environment of the school, its location, the selection of social knowledge which goes into textbooks (the 'overt' and 'hidden' curriculum), classroom transactions, teachers' attitudes, beliefs, values, their language and classroom practice, peer interactions. How is sociocultural theory used today? It is one of the dominant theories of education today. It believes learning happens first through social interaction and second through individual internalization of social behaviors. In the sociocultural theory, students and teachers form relationships in the classroom to help the student learn. V How does the professional learning community influence teaching and learning? One way is that it represents education. The study of how people and societies interact within one another and themselves is, in part, the essence of education.(like in sociology)... Additionally, students' backgrounds demand that teachers comprehend how different societies interact within one other in order to maximize learning. Why is the professional learning community important in education? BLC plays an important part in the teaching process. It helps to build strong relationships between a teacher/professor /peers and the class. If their relationships is bad( they don’t get along ,etc), it negatively reflects on the whole process(building professional communities of practice). Students get forced to solve their academic problems outside the class The importance of Building and Supporting a Professional Learning Community in education This should be an important component of your college/university education, regardless of your majors, for two reasons: It enables you to gain a better understanding of the social forces that shape your own life, so that you will be better poised to deal with them. it contributes to making good citizens, it contributes to the solution of community problems, it adds to the knowledge of society, it helps the individual find his relation to society, it identifies good Government with community.