Technology and Social Learning

In the article, Learning: Peering Backward and Looking Forward in the Digital Era, Weigal and James discuss the promising effect that the integration of technology in the classroom can have on social learning. They mention that the digital world has opened doors to many new forms of communication and that these seem to have a positive effect on social development. Through these new outlets students are encouraged to collaborate as they come face to face with the online community. The possibilities for group work are endless. A task as simple as a classroom blog can provide opportunities for learning that go beyond academics. As Wiegal and James point out, in a “networked, globalized marketplace” as the one we live in, social skills are an essential characteristic.

After reading this article, I have decided I want to introduce my second graders to blogging. A blog is a powerful tool that embraces the idea of community. I envision my second graders taking an active role in the development of a classroom blog, as they truly enjoy interacting with technology. I imagine that they would be motivated to write and see their ideas displayed on the screen while also interacting with one another on the web. The possibilities are endless. Let’s see what happens.