Brian Nierman’s Updates
Update 5: Social Learning and Teacher Evaluation
I find that social learning is becoming increasing important as schools begin to adapt the Danielson Method of Evaluation of teachers. This is evident in the various standards that stress the importance of students in thinking about their own thinking, being self-reflective, and being a careful contributor of the classroom community. By extension, teachers implementing a student-centered classroom structure helps the social mind in that it requires more collaboration and hands on learning. No longer are students expected to sit in class and bank the material presented by the teacher. Now they are expected to grapple with the material in socio-settings that impact how they handle group dynamics, work within consensus and ultimately learn about teamship through the content. Clearly this empowers students for success in the work place as the worker is now expected to be good collaborators and community members with their colleagues.