Albert Bandura created social learning theory, which later became social cognitive theory. The theory explains how people learn through observing others within the context of cognitive, behavioral, and environmental factors. Key aspects of the theory include attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation. In classrooms, social learning theory is applied when teachers demonstrate tasks for students to observe and then perform themselves, such as creating a PowerPoint or comparing characters in a story. Demonstrating tasks is an effective teaching method because it allows students to better learn through observation rather than just written instructions.

1. By: Celeste Smith

2.  He created the Social
Learning Theory and he later
renamed it the Social
Cognitive Theory.
 He focuses on the
motivational factors and self-
regulatory mechanisms that
contribute to a person’s
behavior.
Stanford News (2007). [Albert Bandura].
http://news.stanford.edu/news/2007/de
cember5/graw-120507.html

3.  Social Learning Theory states that people learn
through the observations of others.
 “Social learning theory explains human behavior in
terms of continuous reciprocal interaction between
cognitive, behavioral, and environmental influences”
(Social Learning Theory (Bandura)).
 The conditions that are used in this theory are:
 Attention
 Retention
 Reproduction
 Motivation
Admin, 2011. [Girl Imitating Adult].
http://www.autism-community.com/learning-
by-imitation-for-individuals-with-autism/

4.  This is used in the classroom when
teachers demonstrate what the
students need to do in the class and
then the children can perform the
Adminsm (2012). {Classroom}.
task on their own. http://fryingpannews.org/2012/10/02
/an-education-how-prop-32s-
 Some examples: backers-have-tried-to-ditch-public-
schools/classroom/
 The teacher demonstrating how to create a PowerPoint
presentation and then the students are now able to create
their own for their class projects.
 The teacher demonstrating how to use a compare and
contrast diagram to compare and contrast characters in a
story they just read so that the students can create their
own for homework.

5.  I think this is a great technique to use in the classroom
because I know that I always learned better when
someone demonstrated it rather than reading how to
do it from instructions.

6.  Admin, 2011. [Girl Imitating Adult].
http://www.autism-community.com/learning-by-
imitation-for-individuals-with-autism/
 Adminsm (2012). {Classroom}.
http://fryingpannews.org/2012/10/02/an-
education-how-prop-32s-backers-have-tried-to-
ditch-public-schools/classroom/
 "Social Learning Theory (Bandura)." Learning
Theories. Learning Theories, 2012. Web. 17 Nov.
2012. <http://www.learning-theories.com/social-
learning-theory-bandura.html>.

7.  Stanford News (2007). [Albert Bandura].
http://news.stanford.edu/news/2007/december5/
graw-120507.html