Situated Learning Theory: Jean
Lave
GREG BEYERLE
EMILY ADAMS
Overview of the Theory
Jean Lave
-PhD in social anthropology,
-social anthropologist
-social learning theorist
-graduated with a doctorate from Harvard University in 1968
-Lave is currently a professor of education and geography at the University
of California, Berkeley
- Beginning of Theory: Nuns in California could successfully do
mathematics when it came to comparison shopping but were unable to
do math in a classroom setting
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWoqsNqWvQk
3 Main Characteristics
 Learning is unintentional and located within an
authentic setting
 To improve learning by motivating students and by
providing a rich context for them
 Emphasizes the context and application of
knowledge rather than memorizing facts
Strengths
 Brings real world experience into the classroom
 Allows students to make conclusions for themselves
 Gets away from teachers simply lecturing in order for
teachers to learn
 Gets away from just memorizing facts
Weaknesses
 Teacher’s role changes from expert to simply
facilitating and with this runs the risks of students
making incorrect conclusions
 Situated Learning may be deemed irresponsible as it
has the potential to cast professional teaching
strategies to the side which often make content
accessible to students
Related to Constructivism
 Constructivism- type of learning that explains
human learning as an active attempt to construct
meaning in the world around us.
 Situated Learning brings real world experiences to
the classroom so they can take what they learned
back out into the world.
Technology
 Computers- look at news, ability to do research
 iPads
 GPS
 Smart Phones-business
Situated Learning Classroom
 Starts early in elementary school-teaches
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independence and self-exploration
Teachers: Inquiry-based theory; helps steer them
toward interests
Group seating; promote cooperation and
collaboration
Computer center, smart board, Elmo, clickers for
smart board
Goals: Promotes individual growth through real
world experiences
Resources
 http://judyreeveswriter.com/wp
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content/uploads/2012/01/apollo16_plum1.gif
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWoqsNqWvQk
www.southalabama.edu
www.lifecircles-inc.com
Phobias.about.com
http://www.crunchbase.com/product/ipad
http://www.learning-theories.com/situatedlearning-theory-lave.html
http://www.personal.psu.edu/wxh139/Situated.htm