Associative Learning

"Learning would be exceedingly laborious, not to mention hazardous, if people had to rely solely on the effects of their own actions to inform them what to do. Fortunately, most human behavior is learned observationally through modeling: from observing others one forms an idea of how new behaviors are performed, and on later occasions this coded information serves as a guide for action."
-Albert Bandura, Social Learning Theory, 1977

Introduction

Observational learning is also known as social learning theory which was proposed by Albert Bandura. It became one of the most influential theories of learning and development.
It occurs when an observer’s behavior changes after viewing the behavior of a model. An observer’s behavior can be affected by the positive or negative consequences, called vicarious reinforcement or vicarious punishment, of a model’s behavior. It assumes that individuals learn specific cognitive structures from observing the behavior of others and that these strategies account for the acquisition of social behavior. There are four key processes of observational learning. These are attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation. Bandura also stresses two important things which are modeling and imitation. Imitation involves copying the behavior of the model one is exposed to.
Moreover, the observational learning has impacts in curriculum, instruction and assessment. In curriculum, students must get a chance to observe and model the behavior that leads to a positive reinforcement. In instruction, educators must encourage collaborative learning, since much of learning happens within important social and environmental contexts. For assessment purposes, a learned behavior often cannot be performed unless there is the right environment for it. Educators, as an answer, must provide the incentive and the supportive environment for the behavior to happen. Otherwise, assessment may not be accurate.
Theoretical Constructs

Observational learning by Albert Bandura is also called social learning theory. It occurs when an observer's behavior changes after viewing the behavior of a model. An observer's behavior can be affected by the positive or negative consequences--called vicarious reinforcement or vicarious punishment-- of a model's behavior.

There are several guiding principles behind observational learning, or social learning theory. According to Bandura, the observer will imitate the model's behavior if the model possesses characteristics-- things such as talent, intelligence, power, good looks, or popularity--that the observer finds attractive or desirable. The observer will react to the way the model is treated and mimic the model's behavior. When the model's behavior is rewarded, the observer is more likely to reproduce the rewarded behavior. When the model is punished, an example of vicarious punishment, the observer is less likely to reproduce the same behavior. A distinction exists between an observer's "acquiring" a behavior and "performing" a behavior. Through observation, the observer can acquire the behavior without performing it. The observer may then later, in situations where there is an incentive to do so, display the behavior. Learning by observation involves four separate processes: attention, retention, production and motivation. Attention and retention account for acquisition or learning of a model's behavior; production and motivation control the performance. Human development reflects the complex interaction of the person, the person's behavior, and the environment. The relationship between these elements is called reciprocal determinism. A person's cognitive abilities, physical characteristics, personality, beliefs, attitudes, and so on influence either his or her behavior and environment. These influences are reciprocal, however. A person's behavior can affect his feelings about himself and his attitudes and beliefs about others. Likewise, much of what a person knows comes from environmental resources such as television, parents, and books. Environment also affects behavior: what a person observes can powerfully influence what he does. But a person's behavior also contributes to his environment.

Bandura states that students must get a chance to observe and model the behavior that leads to a positive reinforcement. Educators must encourage collaborative learning, since much of learning happens within important social and environmental contexts. A learned behavior often cannot be performed unless there is the right environment for it. Educators must provide the incentive and the supportive environment for the behavior to happen. Otherwise, assessment may not be accurate.

Reflections and Insights

This type of learning is truly essential in the educative process. The students tend to be keen observer. This is, definitely, important to make the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and habits, which they are acquiring in the teaching and learning process, be more permanent and retained. That is why a teacher should be a good role model to his students because, primarily, they will copy what the teacher is manifesting inside the classroom. Likewise, during demonstrations, an instructor should be free of errors for the students to get the necessary skills perfectly the first time. Further, several studies have shown the effectiveness of observational learning in the educative process because students, especially the children, greatly depend on what they have seen and tend to imitate what they have observed.
In general, the classes that I have observed have used this kind of learning strategy. Specifically, the skill subjects like Stenography and Keyboarding. Indeed the beginning of the class semester in these subjects is crucial. The students should be able to acquire the correct practices of the skills and this could only be attained through the proper way of demonstrating the correct writing of strokes for the former and correct typing position and right places of their fingers in the home key of typewriters in the latter. The teacher should be able to do it perfectly the first time for the students’ benefit, in which, in the long run, would be a help for them in developing correctly the necessary skills to be acquired.
Moreover, the other subjects I have observed also used this technique in teaching. For instance, the teacher used pictures and slides that are related to their topic and let her students do the observation for several minutes and afterwards a discussion will follow. This is very effective because students are developing their critical analysis on things. On the other hand, the follow-up discussion is a good way to develop the students’ skills in communication, they were given a chance to express their thoughts and share them to their classmates.
However, skills are not the only concern of observational learning but also the way of assimilating good values and characters from the teacher. He should always be a good role model to his students. He should manifest and apply the moral values that a teacher should possess. By means of this, the education’s goal could be achieved more, in which, education does not solely focus in developing and acquiring the necessary knowledge and skills but also integrating values and good conduct. This calls for the permanent modification of behavior of a student.

Recommendations
The teachers should always make it to a point that what they are teaching should always be properly manifested. This entails to being a role model of good behavior that will influence the learners. Likewise, during demonstrations, the teachers should do it perfectly the first time to be able to achieve easily the desired goals and objectives for the day.