sociogram

                                                     

                        

                         SOCIOGRAM

A Sociogram is a graphic representation of social links that a person has. It is a graph drawing that plots the structure of interpersonal relations in a group situation.

Sociograms were developed by Jacob L. Moreno to analyze choices or preferences within a group. They can diagram the structure and patterns of group interactions. A sociogram can be drawn on the basis of many different criteria: Social relations, channels of influence, lines of communication etc.

Those points on a sociogram who have many choices are called Stars. Those with few or no choices are called isolates. Individuals who choose each other are known to have made a Mutual Choice. One-Way Choice refers to individuals who choose someone but the choice is not reciprocated. Cliques are groups of three or more people within a larger group who all choose each other (Mutual Choice).

Sociograms are the charts or tools used to find the Sociometry of a social space.

Under the Social Dicipline model, sociograms are sometimes used to reduce misbehavior in a classroom environment. A sociogram is constructed after students answer a series of questions probing for affiliations with other classmates. The diagram can then be used to identify pathways for social acceptance for misbehaving students. In this context, the resulting sociograms are known as a friendship chart. Often, the most important person/thing is in a bigger bubble in relation to everyone else. The size of the bubble represents the importance, with the biggest bubble meaning most important and the smallest representing the least important.

Definition of Reflective Teaching

Reflective teaching is a process where teachers think over their teaching practices, analyzing how something was taught and how the practice might be improved or changed for better learning outcomes. Some points of consideration in the reflection process might be what is currently being done, why it's being done and how well students are learning. You can use reflection as way to simply learn more about your own practice, improve a certain practice (small groups and cooperative learning, for example) or to focus on a problem students are having. Let's discuss some methods of reflective teaching now.

Method 1: Keep a Journal

After each class, take some notes about what was taught and how students responded, positive or negative. Did they understand the material? Do you need more prep time to effectively teach the lesson? Reflect on this information at the end of the day. Use a journal, noting what you could do differently or what worked well.

Method 2: Get Feedback

After a lesson or activity or at the end of the class, ask students to briefly and honestly describe what they learned and what, if anything, didn't work well in the lesson. Allow them to provide the feedbackanonymously. Collect the responses and take notes in your journal on their observations for improving or changing your teaching practices. You can also ask a colleague whose teaching standards you admire to come into your classroom and observe a session. Ask for honest feedback, and let your colleague know that your goal is to improve.