1

Real World Application Toward Social Learning

Marciea Alford

February 12, 2022

EDTC 5465, Spring Semester, 2022 - Instructional Design

Learning Theory and Research Paper

Dr. Ralph Olliges

 2

Theorist: Social Learning Theory (Albert Bandura)

Thesis: Although social learning is the beginning of how a child learn it can be displayed in a
positive and negative outcome.
Title: Real world application toward social learning

Social Learning Theory and Cognitive Developmental Theory is the breakthrough of

Albert Bandura, a psychologist who conducted a series of experiments from 1961-1963. Then in

1986 Bandura’s Self-Efficacy Theory was adopted. Bandura became fascinated with how people

learn by growing up in a world that displays tragic scenes on television such as violent crime,

war, nuclear crisis, and poverty which was displayed around them. The theorist took a bold

interest to investigate how people learn to be aggressive people and noticed it could be

influenced by the aggression they observed in their environments. Although many experiments

were success it is until he discovered the Bobo Doll experiments using children as the subjects of

his study. The Bobo doll was used in his experiment evidence showed the aggressive model

physically and verbally abused the Bobo doll, while the non-aggressive model ignored the Bobo

Doll and played with other toys. This opened the world of social learning and the emotion

attachment of the learning environment of child/ren. The theorist is a renowned psychologist

whose practice is used in most schools around the world. Social learning, known also as

observational learning, is where children behaviors, attitudes, and emotional reactions can be

defined as behaviors later adopted in children daily classroom environment. Bandura has other

extension to the world of learning and education. He was an educator for many years.

Bandura social learning and the extension of social cognitive theory relates to my world

as a teacher where I teach children with mild learning difficulties. My students are military

based dependents 13 years old, sixth grade middle schoolers, who have the capability of being

hands on learners. They are capable of role modeling appropriate behaviors while observing
 3

others’ behaviors. I am their teacher and I demonstrate a variety of task and activities that

requires social interaction in small group setting. A problem that I have faced several times in

my career of advancing is being a special education teacher. There are challenges that I face

each day with behaviors that must be addressed. A student once came to school in the character

of “Ace Ventura” a character that is loud, flashy, and walks fast while placing his hands on hips.

This is where Bandura Theory came again to rescue my sanity and love for teaching. After

several visits with mom, she explains his aggressive behaviors his world is modeled by the

absent of Dad being gone on deployment for a year. In tears she stated she uses the television to

calm him down at home. He loves to imitate characters, and he will not eat without the

television being on. Bandura is spot-on when he says children are influenced by the environment

where they live. Models such as parents, sibling, characters on children’s show, media, or other

students are how Bandura Theory relates to my world of teaching. Children observe the people

around them behaving in many ways.

In my teaching career I very well can relate more to Bandura Theory as I address

challenging behaviors daily now that Bandura has opened the world of Self-efficacy. Fifteen

years of teaching has never been more challenging today. However, I am using situation crisis to

role model positive actions. My goal will be to organize and rehearse words, activities, and

practices to help them believe in their innate ability. Teaching them to use words of “I can do it”

or “I know I can do it” and never give up. Believing is the key to their learning (self-efficacy).

They will use examples of them visualizing themselves behaving appropriately and letting them

see how successful they can be. My student dealing with the character “Ace Ventura” has made

small adjustment however his behaviors has shown to have satisfactory results which is the
 4

outcome expectancy. Bandura is the theorist that has excelled in the process of social as well as

emotional learning. I have applied most of my lesson plans toward this theorist.

In summary, although social learning is the beginning of how a child learn it is displayed

in a positive and negative outcome. The view of classroom peers and learning begins with the

way they see and view their world. Teachers and educators across the continent will appreciate

Bandura practices and wealth of knowledge to the education field of study to each generation of

teachers.
 5

References

Bandura, A. (1977). Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying Theory of behavioral change.

Psychological Review, 84, 191-215.

Bandura, A. (1977). Social Learning Theory. New York: General Learning Press.