One of the largest movements in modern education is a shift towards social-emotional learning. In addition to internal and external reflection, SEL entails collaborative learning by means of teamwork and teaching others. In Chapter 2, Shenk discusses how IQ scores have been rising at an unprecedented rate over time and how less isolated populations will have a greater intelligence quotient (p41-44), but also describes how competition within a culture fosters success in chapter 4 (p 110). Similarly, there are costs and benefits of independent learning versus community learning/ collaboration. Compare and contrast the benefits of a collaborative learning environment versus a competitive learning environment in terms of ecology and development. Use terms such as cognition and altruism or describe symbiotic relationships between students to relate the concept of educational environment to interdependence in nature.
-Kyle Mueting (kylemueting@comcast.net)
