Good Example Of Social Learning Theory Essay

What I hope to achieve in the classroom is mutual trust and understanding between the students and the teacher as well as acquisition of profound knowledge through applying a social learning theory. I chose this theory because it unites behaviorist and cognitive theories. “The theory has been called a bridge between behaviorist and cognitive learning theories because it encompasses attention, memory and motivation” (Social Learning Theory (Bandura), 2013, para. 1). It underlines the internal motivation of a human to copy other people’s behavior. I could combine different social work practice models: problem solving, task centered model, solution focus model and narrative model. All these social work practice models, except, probably, the last one, imply interactive behavior. It means that students have to actively communicate while finding a solution, a key to a problem, they could learn from each other and from their teachers and at the same time it wouldn’t be a direct forcing them into learning. As to the last model, I think it can be used in order to reflect upon a student’s behavior. While analyzing one’s life we could reveal real motives for human activity. So it is important to combine all these approaches to stimulate both: internal motives and their external display.
My major teaching goal is to develop independent critical thinking in my students. Social workers should present different scenarios, problems and dilemmas for groups of students and individual students to solve. This will develop the students’ ability to think independently and will reinforce their feeling of responsibility for the solution of the problem. Besides, cooperating in groups will give them experience of defending their viewpoints appropriately and cooperating with others. For example, a teacher could suggest some moral dilemmas to discuss in class. Students will share their opinions upon the issue with classmates and express their attitude to the problem. Children can discuss the problem of the nation’s fattening and provide their solutions. Students can also work together on some tasks. E.g., the task is to arrange a charity fair at school. Children will themselves assign positions and decide what they would sell, etc. Personally, I believe, as social workers we should not rely too much on conventional tests as a form of assessment. I think it is more affective to set practical goals and tasks as it will make learners more connected with their environment. It is also very important for students to write narratives as a way to reflect upon their own lives. A teacher can ask children to write a 3-week diary in which they would note down their progress in some subject and what helps them to achieve it. This is actually an application of a narrative model of social work practice. It will help them understand their strengths better and eventually force them into successful activity (Theories Used in Social Work Practice & Practice Models, 2014, para. 15).

References

1. Learning-Theories.com. (2013). Social learning theory (Bandura). Retrieved from http://www.learning-theories.com/social-learning-theory-bandura.html
2. Simmons Staff. (2014). Socialwork@Simmons. Theories Used in Social Work Practice & Practice Models. Retrieved from http://socialwork.simmons.edu/theories-used-social-work-practice/