Embedded Files
"What is Learning?": https://www.teachwithmrst.com/post/what-is-learning
Social learning theory posits that people learn through observation, imitation, and modeling of others' behaviors. Developed primarily by Albert Bandura, social learning theory emphasizes the importance of social interactions and the influence of role models in shaping individuals' behaviors and attitudes.
Strengths and Weaknesses of Social Learning
Although social learning is much broader than observational learning, the ideas in the following article make valid points. Observational learning, demonstrates both strengths and weaknesses in how individuals acquire behaviors through observation rather than direct experience.
Observational learning is efficient, allowing individuals to acquire new skills or behaviors without needing to personally undergo trial and error (Cherry, 2023). It expands learning opportunities by enabling individuals to learn from a diverse range of models, including peers, authority figures, and media portrayals. This versatility facilitates the acquisition of complex skills and behaviors that might otherwise be challenging to learn through direct experience alone. Additionally, observational learning plays a crucial role in social and cultural transmission, as it facilitates the dissemination of societal norms, values, and practices across generations. Moreover, it can promote prosocial behaviors by encouraging individuals to model positive behaviors exhibited by others.
However, observational learning is not without its drawbacks. Individuals may misinterpret or selectively observe behaviors, leading to the adoption of inaccurate or inappropriate actions (Cherry, 2023). Negative modeling is a concern, as individuals may imitate behaviors that are detrimental or undesirable if these behaviors are not appropriately discouraged or corrected in the observed context. The effectiveness of observational learning can also vary based on factors such as the clarity and relevance of the model's actions, the learner's attentional focus, and their ability to reproduce the observed behavior accurately. Ethical considerations arise in media and social contexts where observational learning may inadvertently promote negative behaviors or attitudes. Overall, while observational learning offers significant benefits in terms of efficiency and social learning, these potential pitfalls underscore the importance of thoughtful modeling and guidance in promoting positive behavioral outcomes.
Big Daddy is one of my favorite movies! Although the examples of social learning are a bit unorthodox in these scenes, it highlights that the social interactions that we have can become learned behavior.
Pepperdine School of Education and Psychology: https://gsep.pepperdine.edu/blog/posts/8-benefits-of-a-masters-degree-in-teaching.htm
Student Teaching
Student Teaching
During student teaching, I struggled with modeling my expectations for students to follow. My mentor teacher did not know how to help me and I felt as if I were not going to be a good teacher. Thankfully during a meeting with my site advisor and other MSU students at the school I was student teaching at, one of them shared a video of their teaching. She began by introducing the learning objectives and then following the steps of, 'I do', 'we do' and 'you do'. I have followed and modified these steps as a part of my pedagogical process since that day!
References
Cherry, K. (2023, March 14). How observational learning affects behavior. verywell mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-observational-learning-2795402
YouTube. (2014b, January 16). Social Learning Big Daddy. YouTube.
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