Home What is Social Learning? Important Tips, Strategies, & Examples
What is Social Learning? Important Tips, Strategies, & Examples
Explore social learning: a comprehensive guide on its importance, practical tips, strategies, and real-life examples for improved educational outcomes
Social learning is the concept that humans learn through observing their surroundings. As social beings, interactions with others around us has a profound impact on our growth. This concept has been widely studied by psychologists, educationists, and philosophers throughout history and is a fairly old one. However, recently we have witnessed a rise in its use in online learning.
In this article, we will learn about the ins and outs of this phenomenon, what it means, its applications in L&D, and strategies of usage.
Our views are not entirely our own. We may think of ourselves as individual solitary thinkers but in reality, we are a sum total of our interactions. What we know, we know from others, mostly. From our childhood through adulthood, there is always someone responsible for mentoring us.
First are our parents, then teachers and friends, and eventually, every person we interact with, whether directly or indirectly. This process of acquiring knowledge happens at times unconsciously. One takes notice of the surroundings, sees that certain behaviors are better than others, and inadvertently internalizes them.
Since observational learning is ever-evolving, it further makes social learning a continuous and flexible concept. This is to say, one never stops observing and hence learning.
Mere observation isn't all that is there to this learning approach. In fact, it is far more nuanced. Following are some key components that: make this learning genre different from others:
Several psychologists have studied this notion deeply and given their own two cents on ts. Let's look at some of the most prominent ones.
Albert Bandura is a renowned American-Canadian psychologist who has worked extensively on children's psychology. He first proposed the social learning theory in 1986 which went on to become the social cognitive theory. Bandura's work focuses on how environmental and cognitive factors impact one's learning and behavior.
For this, he gives two aspects:
In addition, another famous psychologist BF Skinner builds on these concepts and calls them 'the human behavior' - how we do things based on the reward and punishment phenomenon. Interestingly, this idea is also used in the development of AI models.
According to Bandura, four essential processes influence learning:
Vygotsky's theory centers around conversations and community and how these two are integral parts of learning. For him, without others, individuals would not have been able to develop. Furthermore, he also includes the written word for learning and thought process development. Indeed, collaborative learning strategies have a significant influence on one's growth.
Kruboltz was a prominent Stanford professor who explained how we make our career choices. He suggested four main factors which determine our ultimate career choices.
Let's take an objective look at this phenomenon and determine if this is really that beneficial.
For course creators and L&D content developers, this model is a holy grail. Simple, etch this onto your minds to succeed. This model suggests that the majority - 70% - of our learning is experiential. To illustrate this better, think of how much of what we know comes from first-hand experience, be it hands-on job training or simulator learning, we learn most from experience. Second is social learning, which is to say we learn from our interactions, relationships, and discussions with others. And lastly, formal learning which is what we learn during our school years, or formal courses - institutionalized learning.
If you wish to design successful courses that guarantee completion rates, then follow this model and divide your course content accordingly. Avoid imposing too much study material onto learners as it might deter and bore them. Rather, include them in the very process of learning using engaging gamification methods.
Wondering how to integrate social learning into your workplace effectively? Then stop stressing ASAP. I have got you covered with these handy strategies.
This traditional form of social learning involves forming groups for face-to-face seminars or virtual meetings, where learners can engage directly with each other and the material. The benefits include:
Examples for Learning Groups:
These sessions leverage collective creativity and expertise to generate innovative solutions. Characteristics include:
Discussion forums offer a structured space for learners to engage in topic-specific conversations, promoting a deeper exploration of subjects through communal inquiry and debate.
Examples for Discussion Forums:
Peer learning harnesses the power of learning alongside equals, where individuals learn from each other's experiences, feedback, and knowledge.
Examples for Peer Learning:
Motivating employees to share and discuss online resources can foster a culture of learning and collaboration. An internal library of curated content can be a valuable asset for organizational learning.
Exchange and Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging informal interactions among employees can lead to spontaneous learning opportunities, with benefits including:
Digital collaboration tools enable real-time cooperation and knowledge exchange, enhancing the learning experience. Examples include:
Modern platforms offer features that support social learning, including live chat for interaction, social channel for learning, and peer review elements. For instance, platforms like Teachfloor enable:
Mastermind groups are specialized forums where individuals come together to share challenges, exchange ideas, and support each other's growth and success.
Examples for Mastermind Groups:
Social learning is truly a gamechanger, especially in employee training. By implementing the presented strategies, you will be able to capitalize on its benefits and make your workplace a full-time immersive educational space. Moreover, it is not just learning, it leads to your overall personal growth.
By applying social learning in your workspace, not only you, but your employees will also get to grow along with you, hence, benefiting the entire environment. It is truly a collaborative way of development.
Social learning is a concept where humans learn through observing their surroundings and interacting with others. It suggests that our knowledge and behaviors are significantly shaped by our social interactions.
Albert Bandura, an American-Canadian psychologist, first proposed the Social Learning Theory, which later evolved into the Social Cognitive Theory. His work highlighted the impact of environmental and cognitive factors on learning and behavior.
The four stages of social learning theory, as proposed by Albert Bandura, are:
Unlike traditional learning methods that often focus on direct instruction and memorization, social learning emphasizes learning through observation, imitation, and social interaction. It involves elements such as assessment of observed behaviors for compatibility, and imitation for internalization.
Yes, social learning has seen a rise in online learning environments. It can be effectively implemented through forums, virtual classrooms, and social media platforms, allowing learners to interact and learn from each other remotely.
Effective strategies include forming learning groups for direct engagement, organizing brainstorming sessions for collaborative problem-solving, facilitating discussion forums for in-depth conversations, and promoting peer learning for mutual growth.
The 70:20:10 Model suggests that 70% of learning is experiential (from hands-on experience), 20% is social (from interactions with others), and 10% is formal (from traditional educational settings). This model is especially relevant for course creators and L&D content developers.
While social learning offers numerous benefits, challenges can include potential inner conflicts from constant imitation, a potential loss of innovation due to conformity, and difficulties in measuring and calibrating its effectiveness.
Social learning not only facilitates knowledge acquisition but also enhances social skills, improves retention rates, and fosters a collaborative learning environment. This can lead to overall personal growth and a more dynamic and innovative workplace culture.
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