Social Cognitive Theory Post 2

In Bandura’s experiment, we can see what happens when modeling teaches undesirable behavior, in this case, violence and hostile language. However, this experiment with exposing children to violent television does show that modeling is an effective form of learning.

Models that are most influential are often those who share characteristics with the imitator.  This could include similarities of gender, race, socioeconomic status, interests, talents, or a plethora of other traits. Models who are of a desirable class or status also attract attention. In the classroom, teachers have an opportunity to be a model for the students. Students also model behavior for each other. “Popular” students or high “social status” may be models for their peers.

Many students will already come into the classroom influenced by large scale cultural factors. These cultural ideas and norms may have been taught at home, intentionally or unintentionally. This shapes the students’ worldviews, which could cause them to be closed-minded, or simply unaware of the beliefs of others. As teachers, we will have the opportunity to expand these worldviews to include more than just what was learned from parents, immediate family, and immediate culture.

I desire to have a classroom with a culture that fosters encouragement. I want students to be encouraged by me to achieve more than they thought possible, to be better people, and to learn and try new things. I also want students to encourage each other in their schoolwork, attitudes, and play. This could be seen by a student telling her friend not to give up on a math problem, or telling a classmate they played well in soccer in gym class. I want encouragement to be sincere, frequent, and effortless.