Observational learning is defined as “learning by observing the behavior of another person, or model.” (Feldman, 2009 p. 201) Observational learning is most commonly known as a “social cognitive approach to learning.” (Feldman, 2009 p. 201) Social cognitive approaches have influenced schools and the learning process by allowing students to imitate what they’ve observed in their learning environment and by their educators.
An example of how social cognitive approaches have modified a school’s curricula is technical schools. While students attend a technical school they are taught by both classroom and hands-on learning settings. During the hands-on learning process, students first observe their instructor perform the task(s) and afterwards they perform the task(s), imitating what they observed.
Another example of how social cognitive approaches are present in school curricula is the awarding of rewards for good behavior and academic achievements. In kindergarten, children are rewarded with gold stars (or something similar) when they share, listen to the teacher, or help another classmate. When a child observes another child being rewarded for a certain behavior the child will imitate the behavior. When students are in high school and college they’re rewarded for academic achievements. Certificates of recognition, trophies for science projects are just some examples of how young adults and adults are rewarded. The observation and imitation of this behavior by the peers of those receiving the rewards is how social cognitive approaches are present in school’s curricula and teaching methods.
An example of how social cognitive approaches have modified a school’s curricula is technical schools. While students attend a technical school they are taught by both classroom and hands-on learning settings. During the hands-on learning process, students first observe their instructor perform the task(s) and afterwards they perform the task(s), imitating what they observed.
Another example of how social cognitive approaches are present in school curricula is the awarding of rewards for good behavior and academic achievements. In kindergarten, children are rewarded with gold stars (or something similar) when they share, listen to the teacher, or help another classmate. When a child observes another child being rewarded for a certain behavior the child will imitate the behavior. When students are in high school and college they’re rewarded for academic achievements. Certificates of recognition, trophies for science projects are just some examples of how young adults and adults are rewarded. The observation and imitation of this behavior by the peers of those receiving the rewards is how social cognitive approaches are present in school’s curricula and teaching methods.
