1. Social Learning Theory

2. Definition of Social Learning Theory - What is Social Learning Theory?
The learning occurs within a social context.
Social Learning Theory considers how people learn from one another by observing, imitating, and modelling

3. General Principles of Social Learning Theory
People can learn by observing the behaviours of others and the outcomes of those behaviours.
Learning can occur without a change in behaviour.
The consequences of behaviour play a role in learning.
Cognition plays a role in learning.

4. Albert Bandura
Carried out numerous experiments to observe the way children learn from observing certain behaviours

5. Bandura and the Bobo dolls

6. Basic Terminology in Social Learning Theory
Social Learning Theorists use the term modelling to describe what a model does (demonstrate a behaviour) and what the observer does (copy that behaviour).
Types of Models
Live model
- an actual person demonstrating a particular behaviour.
Symbolic model
- a person or character portrayed in a film, TV, book, or other medium
Verbal instructions
- descriptions of how to behave

7. Modelling
Can you think of an example of how this has taken place within your classes?

8. Cooperative Learning VS Collaborative Learning
Students work in a small group to achieve a common goal
They work inter-dependently and all assume a broadly similar role
Teacher’s role is to:
Define group’s tasks/goals
Assign groups
Facilitate and monitor group processes
Evaluate the extent to which learning has taken place

9. Collaborative Learning
Students work in a small group to achieve a specific goal
In this case each assumes a different role within the group

10. Peer Tutoring
Teachers cannot always devote as much time as they would like to one-to-one instruction with their students. In such situations, peer tutoring, whereby students who have mastered a topic teach those who have not, can provide an effective alternative for teaching fundamental knowledge and skills. (Brown & Palincsar, 1987)

11. Benefits:
Cooperation and other social skills improve
Classroom behaviour problems may diminish
Friendships develop between students of different ethnic groups and between students with and without disabilities

12. Situated learning theory
Stresses the importance of context in learning

13. Lave & Wenger Learning should be set in a meaningful context
Activities should be relevant and authentic

14. Lave & Wenger Communities of practice
We learn a lot from the shared experiences of daily life, eg in the workplace, via hobbies. These shared learning experiences are described as ‘communities of practice’

15. What sort of communities of practice do you belong to?