Observational Learning

Until we started chapter 6 about observational learning this semester, I never truly realized how much it is really used in everyday life. It is the most prevalent form of learning and is most likely the way we learn a majority of the things we do everyday. For example, when my little sister was trying to teach our new puppy how to "roll over" she was using her hands and just telling it to roll-over like the puppy could understand her somehow. Finally after a good hour of failing, my mother intervened and since she had raised dogs before she understood the only way to teach it. She got down next to the puppy and began to roll-over each time my sister would say it. Finally after a little while the puppy was able to at least get on its belly. A few days later, my sister, armed with her new found ability to teach, was able to successful teach the young puppy how to roll-over. I didn't make the connection with this style of learning until we actually put down on paper the different types of learning. But observational learning, is definitely the most standard and typical way of teaching everyday tasks.