Chapter 10 Learning Log

What?
Chapter 10 focuses on Social Cognitivism. This is learning as an internal process that may or may not lead to a behavior change. This theory believes that people learn by observing others and, in the process, begin to assume control over their own behavior. Reciprocal causation is an important concept of this theory. This is an interdependence of environment, behavior, and personal variables as these three factors influence learning and development. Another important concept is the power of expectations, which is students engaging in a behavior and then receiving a consequence which enforces their expectations and predictions.

So What?
It is important for a future teacher to have a knowledge of this theory, and important to be on the class syllabus, because it focuses on a basic way of learning. It seems commonsense for people to learn by observation, and this is a big part of classroom learning. Great teachers will understand that students will not only observe what teachers are meaning to teach, but they will understand that students can also learn from observing our behaviors. It is important to understand that modeling good behaviors is a great way to subtly teach students.

Now What?
I can use live modeling in my classroom to promote the behaviors I want my students to participate in. Also i can use symbolic modeling in my English class by having my students study fictional characters and how they influence an observer's behavior. This could even be an interesting topic to discuss as a class. One concept I would like to learn more about is self-efficacy. Although I understand what it is and that it is task oriented, I'm not sure understand how to influence more self-efficacy in my students, or even if it is possible.