What exactly is Social Learning? (Why and How to Use It) What is Social Learning?
If you ask someone about where the most education happens most of the time, they'll likely explain that it occurs while you're growing older and attending school. You learn from a teacher, by reading books, from videos, and even from studies. However, research suggests that the bulk of our learning happens through social and is ongoing throughout our lives.
Find out what it is, why it matters and the best way to use this learning theory to build your online courses.
What is social-learning?
The term "social learning" is a term used to describe any behaviour that's learned through the observation and imitation of an particular person or group of individuals. The concept of social learning can be found in animals, however for humans, it is particularly influential.
When looking at what the term "social learning" means, it's important to understand that learning through social networks isn't necessarily conscious. Social learning doesn't require people to be aware of the idea that they're learning - you don't have to sit down with a pencil and paper at hand to master something. You can actually learn by observing someone and not even be aware of the learning process.
It is an adaptive type of learning, which can take place in many different environments. Humans tend to be cautious about whom they copy and where or when they engage in social learning. However, this selection can be conscious or unconscious.
Asocial vs social learning
There's been a debate on what social learning is. Some authors have argued that the term 'social learning does not mean anything. The reason is that the processes which underlie human social learning are not strictly social - but social learning is different than asocial learning.
Social learning is defined as individuals who learn by themselves. They learns through their own experience through trial and error. It is also known in the field of Individual Learning. Unlike social learning, asocial learning doesn't involve watching or copying others. It isn't groups and doesn't involve the sharing or collaboration.
The growth of the social learning theory
The theory of social learning in the form we have today was first developed in the work of Albert Bandura back in 1873. Also called social constructivism theory, Bandura was able to base his social-learning theory on the concept of observational learning - the act of learning behavior through observation and imitation of them.
Bandura theorized that there are two forms of social learning: Reinforcement learning and Vicarious learning.
Reinforcement learning
In reinforcement learning, people take note of the effects of their behavior. Their behavior is shaped by positive and negative feedback in their surroundings.
When learning through reinforcement the student is more likely to alter the amount of time they engage in certain actions dependent on the results of those behaviors. For instance, if a student speaks up regarding an error, and gets rewarded or praised for this in the past, they'll likely be likely to make the same mistake in the event of a mistake later on. If they're blamed the mistake, and then disciplined for it, they're less likely to bring the issue up again. This is social learning through reinforcement.
Vicarious learning
Another type of social learning is vicarious learning. Vicarious learning happens when individuals are able to learn from their surroundings through observation.
Rewarding learning vs Vicarious learning
Four principles of social learning
When Bandura proposed his theory of social learning, he incorporated four key steps: Attention to Retention, Reproduction and Motivation.
Step 1: Pay Attention
To make learning possible, there must be something that can draw the attention of your child and stay there. Learners only gain knowledge if they keep their eyes on the ball. The average person is exposed to a variety of various behaviors. However, they are taught about things which seem interesting and unusual enough to be interesting. If your students think they are seeing something unique, interesting or useful, they are going to pay attention to this and get the opportunity to study it.
Step 2. Retention
The most important aspect of the process of learning for pupils is to be capable of retaining their knowledge. If someone can't remember what somebody has demonstrated or explained to them, the learning is useless. Although a student may remember or replicate something right away after they've learned it, it's not real learning until they're able to remember it later on. Retention is a crucial part of learning through social interaction.
Step 3. Reproduction
The 3rd principle in social learning is that they can reproduce the lessons they've acquired. Reproduction means the capacity to do the behavior that one observed previously on their own. When someone is watching someone riding on a bicycle, reproduction is taking the bike on and riding the bike. This is where someone can prove that their learning has been successful. When a person cannot replicate the behaviour, they're not qualified to claim they've truly learned it.
Step 4: Motivation
Naturally, a pupil may be able to replicate the lessons they've learned, but If they're not motivated to do so, or don't have the motivation to do it then they will not. That's where the reinforcement step in social learning becomes vital. People become motivated to perform a certain action if they have positive feedback and feel rewarded for doing something.
The four actions are essential in social learning. They make the foundation of social learning. - it's important to incorporate every aspect of learning through social networks for it to become possible.
Social learning and why it is essential
Social learning doesn't have to be an enjoyable way of making your course content more interesting, it's really important to help your students learn and retain information.
Studies show that social interaction is extremely crucial for improving student engagement - and it can be just as effective as getting expert involvement:
- 54 percent of learners believe that the use of social media tools improves the learning process of teaching, compared with traditional methods of instruction.
- A study of social learning by Harvard Business School, researchers observed that when students asked a question in an online group, more than 90% were responded to with precision and accuracy by the other group members.
- Research into the use of social media in promoting education showed that students had significantly more motivated to learn and achieve creative feats in comparison to students who were taught traditional classroom-based teaching.
Learning theory that is applied to social networks in the real world can make a big difference to the learning experience of your students. It's good to know that it's easy to use the concept of social learning within your course structure.
Social learning and the model 70-20-10
The 70-20-10 model follows the theory that the most effective way to learn is with the ratio 70: 20 :10 in different forms of learning.
70% Experiential learning
Most learning needs to be hands-on, on-the-job learning. Students use the process of trials and errors to get to grips with new knowledge, rather than reading about what to do or receiving formal teaching.
Within the virtual learning context, you could try using hands-on learning in the course by using integrations from the App Store such as Mazotec an application that gives students an immediate view of their choices through participation through role-plays and real-world simulationsand interactivity.
20 % Social learning
In the 70-20-10 framework according to the 70-20-10 model, social learning is the most important aspect of learning that accounts for about 20% of the learning time. In this case, it refers to the relationships that are formed with others, feedback, mentoring, discussions, and group exercises.
In order to encourage learning through social interaction in an online learning space, you can make use of Features like Communities to encourage relationships, feedback, and discussions between your students along with live lessons.
10% formal learning
Only 10% of a learner's time must be occupied through formal education, specifically lectures in classrooms or online. Lectures on video count as formal learning and are included in the 10-year %.
The model 70-20-10 is an excellent way of looking at the design of courses and learning. Although formal learning does have its place, it shouldn't be the only type of instruction provided - and shouldn't be the only option.
In this example Experiential learning can be described as involving kinds of social-learning too. The process of learning through experience is likely to involve observing and imitating other people who are learning in the same environment even though a lot of learning involves a social aspect.
Examples of actual-world social learning
To understand more about what the term "social learning" actually is , let's take the time to look over some of the social learning examples that will likely be seen and engage in every day.
Social media
When social learning theory was first developed in the early 1990s, there were no social media as we understand the present day.
Social media has drastically altered the way people learn and the variety of learning possibilities for course creators. The advent of social media has provided opportunities for learning through social networks and knowledge sharing that could be tapped into to make your course content exciting and interesting.
Social media allows for collaboration in learning even among those who live across the world.
What is social learning in social media?
Social learning takes place in a variety of ways on social media. Here are a few instances of how social learning can take place:
- Facebook groups
- Instagram hashtags or Twitter hashtags
- WhatsApp group
- Subreddits
- LinkedIn discussions
These are the spaces that allow social interaction by users who share their opinions, thoughts and theories as well as learning from others around them.
The best part about social media is that social learning can happen without not even realizing. Social media is great in the "attention" phase of social learning theory - it is designed to hold students' attention and allow students to soak up greater amounts of information than traditional learning methods.
Social learning with a person
Many people find that the bulk of learning is through conversations in everyday life. Interactions between friends and colleagues whether it's chatting with coworkers or peers as well as coffee and chats with friends, or meeting industry experts in events -- provide a variety of possibilities for learning through social interaction.
Any kind of social activity could be an opportunity for social learning. Simple conversations can provide occasions for learning through social interaction. There doesn't have to be a conscious chance to learn.
Social learning can just as simply be gaining tips from your fellow student or coworker regarding how best to tackle an assignment or topic and not necessarily formalized reviews. If you're sharing your expertise or learning from others that's the process of social learning.
How your business can integrate Social Learning Theory
Social learning often happens organically But how do you encourage social learning in your company?
Social learning theory can be an extremely useful tool for organizations and businesses, helping to speed the learning process and allow learners to upskill and reskill. Here are the benefits of theory on social learning for companies and the best way to boost chances for social learning within your company:
Benefits of social learning theory in online academies
Enhance communication
For online learning institutions, it can be challenging to encourage communication between students and instructors. This is especially true when it comes to remote and hybrid learning environments where the communication between students teachers may be restricted.
Social learning helps students communicate about problems and exchange information, while simultaneously reducing feelings of loneliness and isolation. Technology like Zoom and Slack will help in facilitating the learning process remotely.
Enhance Engagement
Social learning gives you an opportunity for making the process of professional and personal growth and learning fun. Working with other students within a learning community can be a lot more interesting than staring at PowerPoint slides by yourself!
In a study conducted in 2021 the majority of learners stated that they preferred the use of social learning tools to traditional methods and 77% were satisfied using the social tools for learning. Nearly 90% of pupils have also stated that they'd prefer more social learning tools to be included in their formal training in the near future.
Social learning helps to create a dynamic learning environment, while encouraging collaboration in the learning community onlineStudents love it!
Increase productivity
Students who are happy and engaged in their environment can more productive - and social learning can be the perfect way to increase this.
With these benefits in mind, here's how to introduce social learning into your academy online...
Tips for encouraging the social aspect of learning within your academy online
Social learning can be an effective tool for online academies, leading to increased productivity, engagement and better communication.
To promote social learning in your online school, experts suggest making adjustments throughout the entire curriculum that enhance the learning experience for students at every level. It includes enticing students to participate and using social platforms for media.
Promote social learning with corporate-wide programs
Social learning support can assist in formalizing daily learning in your online academy.
Some examples of the social learning programs which you could implement include:
- Mentorship programs
- Buddy schemes
- Discussion groups
- Peer-to-peer feedback
If you can create an atmosphere of social and collaborative learning within your online academy, you can make learning a part of every day life of your students.
Incentivize students
Sharing and collaboration don't always happen naturally - it needs to be encouraged and supported in your learning community online.
Studies show that when students receive incentives for collaboration in an online discussion group, more than 50% asked a question of their colleagues and close to seventy percent answered a fellow student's question. When no incentive is given the engagement rate is typically skewed - just a fraction of the participants account for more than 90% of the activity that occurs on online discussion boards.
To boost the social learning activities within your school Incentivize students to interact with each other and to make co-learning more of a routine than an exception.
Create an environment for learning that is inclusive
Social learning is heavily influenced by the environment. It is therefore crucial to establish a society which is conducive to the development of social skills.
As well as incentivizing learners It's equally important to have sanctions for undesirable behaviors, including discrimination, exclusion, or other forms of discrimination. It's important to implement formal guidelines that discipline negative behaviors and encourage reinforcement learning.
A welcoming, egalitarian learning culture that encourages and promotes learning through social networks is crucial to create an environment that is competitive and this factor should be taken seriously.
Utilize social media
If you're trying to use social learning to enhance your online academy it is possible to take a look at social media platforms as a method to begin social interaction between educators and students.
Social media provides you with the chance to connect with your students in a way that encourages greater communication. As people spend on average 145 minutes per day on social media, it is a brilliant place to promote education. Create groups on Facebook or WhatsApp group to allow people to connect and share information on the internet.
Similarly, Online Communities with integrated social learning features like a community space and message board or Q&A features are also ways to make use of social learning. This is a great way to make behavioral changes such as encouraging wellbeing practices in the online learning.
Ok, but why do we need to consider social learning?
Learning is deeply rooted in everyday experiences and actions. Learning is most often conducted in the daily routine of observing, discussing, and doing things with others. Instead of thinking of the process of learning as something that you can are doing sitting at home and by yourself you should begin appreciating it as something much more fluid and flexible.
The integration of social learning in your online academy has the ability to alter your course content - and the method you use to teach your students for your organization.