Bandura+Cadre+14

Debbie Moon Social Learning Theory - Albert Bandura

//"Learning would be exceedingly laborious, not to mention hazardous, if people had to rely solely on the effects of their own actions to inform them what to do. Froturnately, most human behavior is learned observationally through modeling: from observing others one forms an idea of how new behaviors are performed, and on later occasons this coded information serves as a guide for action."//

**Important points of the social learning theory:**

 * One of the most influential theories of learning
 * People can learn new information and behaviors by watching other people (observational learning or modeling)
 * Three major concepts
 * People can learn through observation
 * The internal mental states are an essential part of the process
 * Just because something has been learned, it doesn't mean that it will result in a change in behavior - learning occurs without a change in behavior

**The Modeling Process**

 * Not all observed behaviors are effectively learned.
 * Factors involving both the model and the learner can play a role in whether social learning is successful.
 * Certain requirements and steps must also be followed. The following steps are involved in the observational learning and modeling process:

**Attention:**

 * In order to learn, individuals need to be paying attention.
 * Anything that detracts the individual's attention is going to have a negative effect on observational learning.
 * If the model is interesting or there is a novel aspect to the situation, individual's are far more likely to dedicate his/her full attention to learning. (provide steps, cannot model without)

**Retention:**

 * The ability to store information is also an important part of the learning process.
 * Retention can be affected by a number of factors, but the ability to pull up information later and act on it is vital to observational learning.

**Reproduction:**

 * Once an individual has paid attention to the model and retained the information, it is time to actually perform the behavior/skill that was observed.
 * Further practice of the learned behavior leads to improvement and skill advancement.

**Motivation:**

 * In order for observational learning to be successful, you have to be motivated to imitate the behavior that has be modeled.
 * Reinforcement and punishment play an important role in motivation.
 * Individual must want to demonstrate what they have learned.

**Implications in Education and my Action Research Project:**

 * Students learn by watching other students perform a skill/behavior. (For my action research project I am having my students observe seniors in clinic and applying what the juniors are currently learning).
 * Describing the consequences of the skill/behavior can increase the appropriate behavior. This can be as simple as having a conversation with learners on the rewards and consequences of various behaviors/skills. (Juniors must be able to pass skills test before they can advance to the next level-example: administering anesthesia)
 * Modeling can provide a fast acquisition of behavior/skill as long as it has the four essential conditions (attention, retention, motor reproduction and motivation)
 * Students must believe they are capable of accomplishing the task. Faculty can help students learn the sense of self-efficacy (self-assessment and self-reflection does this)
 * Faculty need to set realistic goals. This mean not setting goals to low as well as to high. (know expected outcome)
 * Teaching students how to utilize self-assessment and self-reflection to provide an effective method of improving student behavior. (I will have students re-do their self-assessments and self-reflections until they get the correct concept)

**Connections between theorist:**

 * Situated Learning Theory - Jean Lave - Knowledge needs to be presented in authentic contexts, settings and situations. (Observing seniors in clinic on live patients applying what the juniors are learning).
 * Learning is also usually unintentional rather than deliberate (Lave and Wenger call this a process of "legitimate peripheral participation").
 * Social interaction and collaboration are essential components of situated learning - learners become involved in a "community of practice" which embodies certain beliefs and behaviors to be aquired.
 * Situated learning is related to Vygotsky's notion of learning through social development (discussion board and conversations with the seniors)
 * Dewey - learning is an active process in which the learner uses sensory input and constructs meaning out of it. The learner needs to do something. (Students practice scaling on a typodont (a stimulated mouth with teeth and gum tissue).
 * Vygotsky theory promotes learning contexts in which students play an active role in learning. (I have students work in groups where one student is more knowledgeable to boast the ability to achieve the task or skill (scaffolding). Then remove this assistance so they can accomplish the skill on their own.