Learning Theory Paper – Social Cognitive Learning Theory
This semester I have had the opportunity to learn about several different learning theories. I have extensively studied these theories, and the theory that I am going to implement primarily in an Early Childhood Education setting is the social cognitive theory. Social Cognitive Theory is a theory that is easily measured by collecting measurable data. The Social Cognitive Theory was developed by Alberta Bandura, “he started implementing Social Learning Theory in 1969” (Bandura).
This particular theory puts specific emphasis on people learning through social content, such as individuals learning through experiences that are being modeled through situations and occurrences in their day-to-day lives. Individuals replicate behaviors that are being modeled in their presence as a response to their subconscious learning. There are six important components to this theory that are used to help not only initiate appropriate behavior, but this theory also takes into consideration the role of maintaining appropriate behaviors in an academic setting. According to Alberta Bandura, “The six important components to this theory are Reciprocal Determinism, Behavioral Capability, Observational Learning, Reinforcements, Expectations, and most importantly Self Efficiency” (LaMorte, Wayne).
Social Cognitive learning theory is the learning technique that emphasizes learning through social content. Though learning through social content is emphasized through this theory, it doesn’t define the exact verbiage of what a social environment is. An example of a social learning environment can be located within the four walls of your church. Within the church, followers of Christ learn behaviors and techniques that they will model in their day-to-day lives. The same is true for the home you grew up in. You learn behaviors that are modeled before you as a child. When you become, a parent is important to be a good role model for your children because you want to model what you preach. This is a critical motto to live by when you are teaching your youth. The Bible states, “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (2 Timothy 4:12 ESV). This verse emphasizes the importance of leading by example for our youth and our community. Not only to lead by example but to follow those positive role models in our lives to continue to grow and have the ability to live through Christ. As followers of Christ and servants of him through being educators of those future generations, it is important to stay strong and focused on our faith. Through our faith, we have the ability to bring others to Christ by leading and loving in a Christ-like manner.
As a teacher, it is important to prepare adequate instructional time to accommodate students who require extra support in the classroom. Jen Snell, a clinical psychologist from the University of Maryland, states, “There is a richness that comes from students working side by side with others who are not of the same cookie-cutter mold” (Great Schools). As the instructor, it takes time and patience to create a professional relationship with your students. By having a professional relationship with your students, you will have a greater understanding of your students’ needs educationally, spiritually, and even culturally. When you have the ability to relate to your students, you will also have the ability to motivate them both extrinsic and intrinsic. When deciding what rewards and recognition to utilize in your classroom, it is important to use both observations and other assessment methods. When applying the Social Cognitive Theory in your classroom, it is important that you have the ability to reach each child’s unique learning ability. Also, when implementing and fostering this theory, it is important to create social experiences within your classroom. You can foster this strategy by including group projects, peer-to-peer learning, and social experiments; by utilizing these strategies, you will have the ability to engage all students with their different learning abilities. By utilizing these unique learning strategies and observation in your classroom, you will be able to implement instruction plans that meet the needs of all students in your classroom.
Through my experience working in several schools worldwide, I have had the opportunity to work with students from different cultural and religious beliefs. This was a very challenging opportunity due to understanding and differentiating learning techniques that can impact students. Being able to differentiate these different techniques at the beginning of my teaching journey was very challenging. As a teacher who believes in the Social Cognitive Theory, I was challenged in the beginning by getting students from different cultural backgrounds to socially engage without taking away from the curriculum that is being taught. Due to the diverse learning abilities within these classrooms, I constantly had to look for techniques and tools to utilize in my classroom to keep my students actively engaged. Many of my students required constant direction and redirection to stay on task. By having to utilize this technique, I did not have time for students to sit around and slip into idle mode. When it came to engaging in group projects, I would always give students specific tasks to require them to not only think out of the box but to keep them engaged with their classmates. By utilizing group projects, I was able to encourage social engagement while requiring students to think outside of their comfort zone. When using group projects and activities, I would break the classroom into small manageable groups. Through this technique and strategy, students were able to learn how to engage with their peers and work together to solve problems. By utilizing this strategy, the students were able to think and respond beyond their age. When learning new vocabulary words, I would have the classroom work together to create flashcards to help with memorization techniques. If students were struggling with particular topics, I would use a peer-to-peer strategy so the students could rely on their peers and engage socially to solve problems in which they were encountering. These techniques provide the opportunity for efficient classroom management that provides the ability for all students to engage, participate, and, most importantly, learn.
During my first year working in a school setting, I had several obstacles to overcome. At the same time, working with students whose future relies on me laying the proper foundation for their academic success. Through a lot of trial and error, I was able to take to utilize the Social Cognitive Theory in my classroom and data to measure my student’s progress. By the end of the academic school year, students would practice turning to one another for guidance before consulting me as their teacher. It was a gratifying feeling to know that I impacted my student’s life at such a precious age.
Another great attribute of the Social Cognitive Theory is teachers have the ability to create a healthy competitive atmosphere that pushes students with extrinsic motivation within the classroom. A perfect example of using extrinsic motivation in the classroom is, having students participate in competitive learning activities and using a reward for the winner to entice the students to work harder to achieve the prize. These activities are not only fun, but they are also very rewarding both academically and socially for students. Using these activities in the classroom, it promotes students to work with their peers socially to engage in the activities so they can be rewarded for their accomplishments. When utilizing these activities, students began to pick up skills and knowledge through their experience. This technique also tends to promote intrinsic motivation because students and children long to develop skills to achieve goals that they are yearning to reach. Utilizing both extrinsic and intrinsic motivation works in unison.
Through my experience working in the classroom, I have had the opportunity to grow through learning experiences. Though I have learned a lot, I still have a lot of room to progress and gain wisdom as an educator. When working in the classroom setting, I have personally come to the conclusion that the Social Cognitive Theory is the strongest asset for classroom management style. This theory promotes the strongest classroom management while still having the ability to boost self-esteem and, most importantly, allowing students to maximize their learning ability. Though this specific theory may not be ideal for every student within your classroom, it can be implemented in several different learning styles to be able to reach every learning style within your classroom. I chose to continue to utilize this theory as long as I could successfully engage my students with this approach. By utilizing this approach, I am giving my students the guidance and tools necessary to be successful in the real world. My students will be given the opportunity to gain skillsets that they can implement in their day-to-day lives and set them up to be successful in their professional lives. As a teacher, it is our responsibility to encourage students to flourish and learn new skill sets; they will have a difficult job being able to complete tasks on their own later in life. While encouraging students to gain social learning strategies, it is also important for students to gain techniques to develop other skills that can be implemented in their lives, not only in the present but in the future. My job as an educator is to ensure that when using this theory, I am not only ensuring my students are receiving their education in a manner in which they can comprehend, but they also have the ability to thrive.
Over the past several weeks, I have had the opportunity to learn about each individual learning theory and how to implement these theories within my classroom. I have found that it is important to learn and collaborate with my peers and others while continually broadening my own views on theories. In the schools in which I work be working in it is unacceptable to pray and teach about Christianity. And though it is not allowed, it is important to teach the students within your school, and your classroom with Love like the Lord wants us to love. How to integrate your faith in the classroom, both professionally and spiritually, is very important. Sometimes integration is defined by contrast: what it is and what it is not (cf. Heie& Wolfe, 1987). Wolfe says that “genuine integration occurs when an assumption or concern can be shown to be internally shared by [or is integral to] both the Judaeo-Christian vision and an academic discipline” (p. 5). He notes that when Christian beliefs are related in some way to ideas in academic disciplines but in a way that lacks an integral relation, a pseudo-integration results. In conclusion, Wolfe assures that “integration is the process by which two often very different visions are related in an interesting and informative way on the basis of one or more shared presuppositions” (p. 5).
Being a future educator of our future generations is one of the most rewarding professions known to man. Though there are several obstacles to overcome, it is important to know that there.
References
Behavioral Change Theories.(nd) Retrieved October 11, 2018, from http://sphweb.bumc.bu.edu/otlt/MPHModules/SB/BehavioralChangeTheories/BehavioralChange Theories5.html
Behavioral Change Models. (n.d.). Retrieved October 14, 2018, from http://sphweb.bumc.bu.edu/otlt/MPH- Modules/SB/BehavioralChangeTheories/BehavioralChangeTheories5.html
100 Bible Verses about Lead By Example. (n.d.). Retrieved October 11, 2018, from https://www.openbible.info/topics/lead_by_example
GreatSchools Staff | November 3, 2017 Print article. (n.d.). How important is cultural diversity at your school? Retrieved October 13, 2018, from https://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/cultural-diversity-at-school/
The Teacher as Agent in Integrating Faith and Learning. (n.d.). Retrieved October 10, 2018, from http://christintheclassroom.org/vol_10/10cc_239-255.htm
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Question 
In this week’s discussion, we will examine how instructional design is informed by student learning theory. Select one motivational and one learning theory that was presented in NUR 660 and apply them to the instructional design process (if you have not yet taken NUR 660, you have access to the textbook on VitalSource and your nursing texts also include learning theories).
Learning Theory Paper
Identify the theories you selected
Explain why you are drawn to these theories.
In a practical/concrete way, discuss how they will inform your decisions as you design your online course.
How might these theories help you to quickly adapt your curriculum to current events (e.g. the pandemic) or changes in the healthcare system?