Example of a Learning Experience that Exercises the Social Mind

A great example is group project-based learning in the classroom. When students work together on a research project, they share knowledge, negotiate roles, and build on each other’s ideas. This activates the social mind because thinking happens not only in individuals but also through dialogue, shared problem-solving, and cultural norms of communication.

Media Example: This short video from Edutopia explains collaborative learning strategies and their impact on students: Edutopia – The Power of Collaborative Learning

Expanding Learning Beyond the Individual

Thinking with others allows learners to access perspectives, problem-solving strategies, and cultural frameworks they might not generate alone. This is sometimes called collective intelligence — the enhanced capacity that emerges when people collaborate and pool their knowledge (Levy, 1997).

For example, in a science lab, one student may excel at technical measurements, another at analyzing results, and another at presenting findings. Their combined efforts create deeper understanding than if each had worked alone.

Processes and Benefits of Collaborative Learning

Collaborative learning involves:

Dialogue and negotiation – learners explain ideas, challenge assumptions, and co-construct understanding.

Distributed cognition – tasks are shared across multiple minds and tools.

Mutual support – peers motivate and scaffold each other’s learning.

Benefits include stronger critical thinking, improved communication, deeper content mastery, and greater motivation (Laal & Ghodsi, 2012).

Example: Learning in a Community of Practice

Consider medical residents in a teaching hospital. They learn not just from textbooks, but by working within a community of practice (Wenger, 1998), where experienced doctors mentor them through observation, feedback, and joint practice. The dynamics include legitimate peripheral participation (novices starting at the margins and gradually taking on more central roles) and shared responsibility for patient care.

This shows how learning is deeply social — knowledge emerges from collaboration, culture, and community practice.

References 

Edutopia. (2020, May 27). The power of collaborative learning [Video]. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/article/collaborative-learning

Laal, M., & Ghodsi, S. M. (2012). Benefits of collaborative learning. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 31, 486–490. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.12.091

Levy, P. (1997). Collective intelligence: Mankind’s emerging world in cyberspace. Perseus Books.

Wenger, E. (1998). Communities of practice: Learning, meaning, and identity. Cambridge University Press.