How Social Learning Helped Us Learn in the Past
"Social Learning" implies that people learn about activities by repeatedly watching others take significant actions. They already know what to do as a result. For example, you might have never hammered a nail, but you've had someone do it. Or, you might have never ridden a bike, but you've watched others do it. Hence, you know what to do.1
Do you think the above definition applies to any learning you've previously had? Whether your answer is yes or no, let's explore together!
- Think of the people who have positively affected your life through modeling, coaching, or teaching in any area. Write their names below.
- Select one individual who had a truly significant, positive effect on you. Write the person's name.
- When you think of that person, what words or images come to mind?
- What have you learned from that person? What did that person teach you?
- How did you learn from that person?
After you've gone through the above activity, we can conclude that many of our learnt soft skills haven't been taught through textbooks. Instead, we have learnt it through social interactions. Hence, social learning has a significant impact on soft skills development. Each one feeds into the other.
A modern learning culture's core elements include mentorship, coaching, and regular feedback from experts, managers, and peers. These elements are crucial for assisting staff members in the development of critical soft skills and improving their performance over time. Here are some statistics:2
1 Enyota Learning, 5 Nov 2020, The Importance of Social Learning in the Workplace, Accessed 30 Nov 2022,https://enyotalearning.com/blog/importance-social-learning-theory-workplace/
2D2l, 29 Mar 2018, Jon Paul, Infographic: Soft Skills and Social Learning in the Workplace, Accessed 9 Jan 2023, https://www.d2l.com/en-eu/blog/infographic-soft-skills-and-social-learning-in-the-workplace/
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