Social Learning Via Technology 2.0

Over a year later, I am amazed at how quickly social learning has exponentially expanded for high school students. My 14 and 16 year old kids regularly complete groupwork assignments and plan project presentations using facebook and skype. Frankly they wouldn't do it any other way -- couldn't be bothered to meet in the library at lunch or after school. They plan a time they know all group members will be at home and "meet online" using real time chat, email, facebook posts, or if working out a skit, for example, skype for the visual/auditory part. I have to stand in line to access one of our family's computers during after school hours.

The content of their projects has improved and increased dramatically from what I could ever have handed in while a high school student. They are producing resolutions for the United Nations to consider, critiques on the writings of published historians, to-scale drawn maps of Napolean's battle strategies, and up to the hour reports on current events. Kind of makes my galaxy in a shoe box project from my freshman year seem a little sad.