The ‘Social Learning’ theory by Albert Bandura states that learning is a cognitive process that takes place in a social context and can occur purely through observation or direct instruction, even in the absence of motor reproduction or direct reinforcement.
In addition to the observation of behavior, learning also occurs through the observation of rewards and punishments, a process known as vicarious reinforcement. When a particular behavior is rewarded regularly, that behavior will most likely persist and if a particular behavior is constantly punished, it will most likely desist. Albert Bandura OC is a psychologist who is the David Starr Jordan Professor Emeritus of Social Science in Psychology at Stanford University. For almost six decades, he has been responsible for contributions to the field of education and to many fields of psychology.
Talking of technology in the social learning, the mix has been a super hit. Facilitating to the various needs of social learning, technology has made it possible for masses to involve and adapt to this learning pedagogy.
Listed below are some social learning web tools and platforms that will help you leverage the power of technology to make the best use of social learning.
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1. Edmodo
Edmodo provides teachers and students a secure place to connect and collaborate, share content and educational applications, and access homework, grades, class discussions and notifications. Edmodo is a social learning platform for teachers, students, and parents. It enables the teachers connect with students on a “cooler” platform where the teacher seems to appear more of a friend than a superior forcing you to learn your lessons. Thus Edmodo in one way or more focuses on closing the gap between the teacher and the learner bringing them together and helping them to learn from each other enhancing their individual selves.
2. Udemy
The tool lets you to create online courses, upload presentations, videos, host live classroom sessions and write blog posts. With Udemy, students can master new skills through self-paced, on-demand courses, while instructors have a way to share their knowledge with the world.
3. WiZiQ
A web-based platform for anyone who wants to teach and learn live, online. A virtual classroom, to create and share online educational content and tests, and to connect with people sharing subject interests. The platform increases learner engagement through cutting-edge features, such as mobile learning, video streaming, live online classroom, discussion boards, assessments, insights and analytics.
4. Grockit
Grockit is a pioneering online social learning company. Grockit has proven that people learn more, faster through combining social learning mechanics and multi-media learning content to help people teach and learn from others. It offers Test Prep services for GMAT, IIM CAT, LSAT, GRE, ACT, SAT and AP Calculus and AP History tests.
Grockit has built a social learning test prep platform for license and direct-to-consumer products. Florida Virtual Schools, KIPP Schools, Georgetown University and other schools have deployed Grockit services.
Grockit is an adaptive, personalized learning program distinguished by its unique social learning features that are proven to help people learn quickly and answer more questions correctly.
5. Curatr
Curatr is the award-winning social learning platform from HT2 which enables rapid delivery of innovative, gamified courses that really get people talking. This Social Learning Platform makes a way to deliver online courses that promotes learners contributing back to the course environment. It enables organizations to deliver online courses and MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses).
Rooted in social learning and built around proven gamification principles, Curatr allows users to learn from and with other people in a community environment.
6 . Brainly
It is a free internet learning portal focused on in-group social learning and homework help. Students can ask questions, get answers and make their everyday study more efficient. They are able to make friends with other people interested in similar subjects and work together. Brainly tries to encourage young people, to elevate their creativity to a whole new level, allowing them to look at problems from a completely new perspective at the same time.
Often, we see people confusing social learning with social media in education. Use of social media in education constitutes to the concept of social learning but doesn’t define it completely. Integrating social media is a great way to facilitate social learning to students as it makes it easy on both ends. Also, students nowadays are religiously active on social media so making use of that can be really beneficial.
Below are few resources that you can use to get a knack of how to use social media for all your education needs:
Social Media Tips Every Educational Leader Must Follow
An Educational Guide To Social Media Usage for Students
7 Ways of Using Twitter for Teaching in the Classroom
Social Accounts & Pinterest Boards to Follow to Learn About Twitter in the Classroom
Importance of Social Media in Higher Education
What’s your take on Social Learning? Share with us in the comment section below.
