Social Cognitive Learning Theory

Social cognitive learning theory was described by Albert Bandura which suggests that an organism learn not only by its own experiences but also by observing the occurrences and experiences of other organisms in their environment.  Social events, environmental factors, religious beliefs, perceptions, memory of previous experiences and ones motivation all play an important role in the person’s actions or behavior which reflects what his learned. 

Modeling or Observational Learning

Social Cognitive Theory as well as Behavioral theories address a form of learning called as modeling or observational learning which is sometimes also called as “social learning”. It states that a student doesn’t have to have to get personally reinforced to get his behavior changed. However in a classroom if he sees other students getting reinforced that by itself is enough to change his behavior. For example if a slower student watches a teacher praising other students for completing their work on time, that will drive the slow student to imitate faster students. For imitation the student need to internalize the social event which took place, keep it stored in his memory, reproduce the action and above all have the intrinsic motivation to do so. 

Self regulated learner

 

A self regulated learner should be able to have self control, self regulate and have self efficacy. Self control implies the ability for one to control his/her action in absence of external reinforcements. Self regulation implies the ability to apply ‘self control’ consistently and appropriately to new situations. Self efficacy is the extent to which one believes he/ she is capable of pursuing a task. Self efficacy is driven by performance accomplishments, verbal persuasion, emotional arousal and vicarious experience. Self efficacy can influence one’s behavior in its selection process, cognitive process, motivational process and in its affective process. 

Social cognitive theory greatly helps us to shape our students as self regulated learners which is one of the most important purposes of education itself. Reinforces and other interventions utilized will be of no use to the students once such interventions/ reinforces have been withdrawn unless those interventions actually led to a permanent change in the learner which led the learner to have self control, self regulation and have a self efficacy. A self regulated learner will continue to learn throughout and will enjoy the process. Such personalities later on doubtlessly will become important members of the society.