Bandura's Social Learning Theory and the Online Classroom

                                            

Bandura’s theory of observational learning states that we learn from one another by observation, imitation and modeling. I think this is true in an online course and the theory has implications for how the course is taught. 

The primary model is the teacher. If we want students to respect and listen to each other then we must respect and listen to them. I think a teacher should post in the class early and model responses in the Introductions discussion.

I have noticed in discussions that students respond to those who respond to them. This can be positive because small communities form, but it also may leave some students feeling left out of the conversation. In that case the teacher must model responses by asking the class questions about the posts of those with few or no replies.