LET (Licensure Examinations for Teachers) Tips: Albert Bandura's Social Learning Theory

          Forgive me if I wasn't able to update my blog that often. There was a lot of "ATs" going on in the public school system. If you are not familiar with these, I am actually referring to achievement tests namely Division Achievement Test, Regional Achievement Test and the upcoming National Achievement Test this March. These tests are conducted to measure the extent of learning of pupils among public schools in our country. But to be honest, I'm actually skeptical if these tests really "measure" what they really want to measure. Hmmmmm....
          Going back to my usual business (thank God for the holiday), here are some of the questions that usually come out visavis Albert Bandura's Social Learning Theory. As I said many times, these are just the "look" of how the questions are constructed and asked in LET. (Answers are found below, please READ first the questions before scrolling down.)

1. Young Mary saw her mother applying make-up in front of the mirror. She then went to her room and  color her face with crayons. Which psychologist can best explain Mary's behavior?
A. B. F. Skinner
B. Jean Piaget
C. Albert Bandura
D. Ivan Pavlov

2. Teacher C demonstrated the steps in ChaCha before he let his pupils do the dance. Which theory adheres to this teaching strategy?
A. PsychoSocial Theory
B. Purposive Behavior
C. Constructivist Theory
D. Social Learning Theory

3. Teacher Maila wanted to apply Bandura's principles in learning. Which of the following will she most likely do?
A. Exhibit good and proper attitudes in teaching values in GMRC
B. Present concrete materials in teaching Science
C. Do oral graded recitation in Language
D. Have the pupils draw different polygons in Mathematics

4. Which must first be taken into consideration for effective modelling to occur?
A. The learner must be able to replicate the behavior the model exhibits
B. The learner must be able to pay attention to the model
C. The learner must be motivated
D. The learner must retain what he has observed

5. Which does NOT adhere to Albert Bandura's theory?
A. Learners can learn by observing other people
B. Learners must have direct experience of the consequences of one's behavior in order to learn
C. Teachers can demonstration method as a teaching strategy
D. Teachers must serve as role models for the learners


Answers:
1. C
2. D
3. A
4. B
5. B
Any questions, violent reactions and comments about the questions and answers are welcome.

Applications: Albert Bandura's Social Learning Theory

          These are some of the educational/instructional applications of this theory. As I always say, these are just some of the applications and the possibility of applying this theory is endless given various factors like the learners, classroom environment, etc.

1. Learners learn through observation. Therefore as teachers, we can utilize modelling especially on topics that develop skills or the psychomotor domain of our objectives. Demonstration method can be used especially on topics like dance or stunts in Physical Education Topics; using the microscope in Science; how to sew buttons in EPP; measuring angles in Mathematics and many more.

2. Modelling is another way to modify or shape behavior aside from the usual reinforcement. Present scenarios or vicarious experiences of models that present rewards or consequences (for the information of everybody, educators/psychologists nowadays prefer to use the term "consequences" to replace the word "punishment") of various behavior. Share and discuss biographies, anecdotes and many other stories about people or certain models and the results of their behavior.

3. Present not only the "usual" or common models. As teachers, let's present and expose our learners to diverse models to avoid stereotyping.

4. Last but not the least, teachers must be good role models for learners. Let us be aware and be careful with the behavior that we exhibit in front of the class. Let us model appropriate behaviors especially values. Let us walk our talk...

Albert Bandura's Social Learning Theory

 
     After how many months of moratorium about education topics, I now have to go back with my discussion since the next LET will be this April 2011. And my buena mano topic for this year is Albert Bandura's Social Learning Theory. (I'm so sorry that this blog was not updated for how many weeks. There are a lot of things going on in my life...hehehehe...lol)
     Albert Bandura's Social Learning Theory States that learners learn through observing, modelling or imitating other people's behavior and the consequences of this behavior. (You might have remembered my previous video post about this theory that showed how the children imitated the way adults treated the "Bobo" doll.) This is also commonly referred to as "Observational Learning" or "Social Learning".

Father and son...peeing together...Who do you think is the model??? The father or the child?hehehe..

      Albert Bandura's theory can be categorized to "NeoBehaviorism" - a movement that crosses both behaviorist and cognitive views of learning. This proposes that internal and external factors of behavior both play important roles in learning. It explains the interplay among the mind, behavior and environment in the learning process.
 
Modelling

       Modelling has a lot to do especially on learning. It teaches by providing models for imitation as well as encourages and influences the frequency of a behavior to occur by providing vicarious or observed consequences of this behavior.

    

    As you have noticed with the conditions above, learning (reproduction of behavior) requires both internal and external processes. These, according to Bandura, are necessary conditions for learning(modelling) to occur. These are:
1. Attention -- this is the cognitive aspect(internal processes) of this theory by presenting that for learning to occur, a learner must first pay attention to a model.
2. Retention -- the learner remembers what was observed.
3. Reproduction -- the learner produces or replicates the action/behavior that is a copy of what was observed.
4. Motivation -- the environment delivers a consequence that changes the probability the behavior will be emitted again (reinforcement and punishment).


         Actually, there are still other essential topics under this theory (i.e. self-efficacy, reciprocal determinism, etc.) that have important applications on learning. However, let's just stick with modelling, in which shall I say, the most applicable topic if teaching and learning process is concerned. Watch out for my next post on specific applications of this theory in classroom setting.