I posted this idea or thought thread on one of my other blogs that is focused on learning theory. However, I couldn’t resist posting here as well as I can’t help but continue to believe there are major connections here with education technology, how kids play, student development most importantly language and how all those help become the secret sauce in terms of learning.
Lev Vygotsky is one of the most influential constructivists in the field of psychology and learning theory. He doesn’t always make the top ten lists, because is work was not discovered in the US until after his death in 1934 (mainly due to the control of his work by the communist party). A few of his main tenants were: learning through play, learning through language development, and the zone of proximal development (specifically there is a targeted zone in which maximal learning can happen based on developmental stages of the learning and how far we can push them – if we can identify that zone, the most effective and efficient learning can happen).
At any rate, there is major connection here with education technology specifically for teaching and learning. Digital Game Based learning comes into the picture as well as technologies that push language development, etc… Below are a few video and audio snipits that help make this connection. As you listen or watch, take this submission into consideration. Are we now able, with the technologies that are readily available able to move past this passive – sit and get – approach to a learners time while being or entertaining themselves? I believe passive trolling of the Internet was crushed by Web 2.0 and 3.0 and “apps” on mobile devices. (of course this is where O’Reilly’s “secret sauce” comes in – building media rich databases that get smarter and better as more people use them). I believe that passive, mindless TV and movie watching is coming to a end. More and more technologies are providing for interactivity which equals creative thoughts and actions. Minds are working more and more. Think about when you are online, what happens when you have an idea? Answer: you do something about it, you search, you learn more, you create, you post, you grow. What gave you that idea? Answer: something that you were engaged in that was linked from something else. Where is the rigor? Answer: Well, I’d submit that when you are taking ownership for you own learning and engagement of your time… the rigor is at the level you can handle or are prepared to take action on. And that’s where us as teachers can help push, pull, and guide.
1. NPR on Play: Listen to the article or Read the article (this article does not go directly into theories of Vygotsky, but it screems proof positive)
2. TED Talk on Language Development: Deb Roy & the Birth of a word (now, this is mildly creepy but in a sense, it makes me connect the importance of language to learning and social interaction. AND not just in infants, but in our P-20 learners. Language and social (f2f, social media, social networking) is hugely important to harness!
3. TED Talk on future learning oportunities: Lastly, I’ll bring in new learning structures and opportunities with Sal Kahn & the Kahn Academy. Flipping the classroom is something I love. It’s not necessarily ground breaking news but Kahn is doing it with some secret sauce and major scale. I think the take away here is the art of play, Digital Game Based Learning, social media and have a space (learning opp) where students can explore their own “Zone of Proximal Development” (a la Vygotsky). Deb Roy & the Birth of a word (now, this is mildly creepy but in a sense, it makes me connect the importance of language to learning and social interaction. AND not just in infants, but all the way through our P-20 learners. Language and social (f2f, social media, social networking) is hugely important to harness!