Bandura

Bandura’s Modeling and Observational Learning:

“Modeling” and “vicarious learning” are two factors that Bandura believed directly affected the way humans learn. Modeling is learning through the copying of someone else’s behavior, while vicarious learning occurs when one learns through someone else’s success and failures. Bandura’s findings primarily focused on these two forms of observational learning, and his results concluded that there are 4 phases the learner goes through when observing a model. The first phase is the “attentional phase”, which occurs when the learner is paying attention to the model. This includes the model getting the attention of whomever they are presenting to. The second stage is the “retention phase”, which is the point where the model starts the demonstration and models the desired behavior. The third stage is called the “reproduction stage”. The “reproduction stage” is the allotted time where the learner is given a chance to try for themselves what they witnessed the model doing. The last phase is titled the “motivational phase”, which is when the learner imitates the model because he or she is motivated to do well and gets reinforced. Vicarious learning is similar to modeling in the sense that learners are receiving information about what to do or how to act through someone around them. Bandura discovered that through vicarious learning, students were greatly influenced by watching their peers punished or reinforced for certain behaviors.

Bandura’s interest in learning through modeling or vicarious experiences led him to believe that

people are aware of their own behaviors, and are constantly judging themselves according to their own internal standards. People are processing their own behaviors and punishing or reinforcing themselves. This “self-regulation” (Slavin, pg. 114) is recognized by Bandura as critical to student success. Students who can self-regulate their academic progress and social behavior develop an introspective habit of measuring what he or she is doing to the context of the situation.

Our student, Fred, is unfamiliar with his new school, teachers, and classmates. He is often at odds with the classroom procedures, and this interferes with his academic and social growth. Fred would thrive in the classroom if his teacher utilized Bandura’s 4 learning phrases to try to reach him. Since Fred is having difficulty locking down classroom norms, modeling desired behavior is essential for Fred, as he may need to see the classroom rules acted out and reinforced several times before attempting it himself. For example, while Fred suffers in group projects due to unfamiliarity with group procedures and lack of strong relationships with other peers, a walk-through of what each team member is expected to contribute to the overall project would be beneficial. Perhaps Fred needs that extra modeling before developing the confidence to move onto to the “reproduction stage”, where he starts to execute what he’s observed. Bandura would advise for Fred that self-regulation and self-awareness are crucial in his development. Fred’s ability to internalize and determine what action is appropriate for the given situation is a direct example of successful observational learning and healthy self-regulation.