With
innovative tools and unprecedented technologies being developed on the go, it
becomes vital to learn and be updated, not only for freshers but also experts in
any field. Learning is assumed to be a cognitive process taking place in a
social context, according to Social Learning Theory. This theory also
postulates that the learning process occurs through observation and direct
instruction even if motor reproduction or direct reinforcement is absent.
Significance of Social Learning
There
has been a vast development on all industrial fronts in the world during the
last few decades. Business and technology have been evolving on a massive
manner, paving way for creation of newer and unheard of devices and processes that
help make human beings’ lives better and comfortable. With inventions and
improvements come the necessity for learning and acquiring new skills and
processes. Social Learning, when applied and conducted in small and
easy-to-maintain groups, ensures nurturing productivity and creating innovative
opportunities.
Just
as a child learns everything by watching others perform different actions,
grown up people in the Business and Industry set up can also learn various
processes and procedures clearly by watching peers and experts’ performance.
Learning by watching others has always been a continuous process, be it in
financial sector or technical field.
Benefits of Social Learning
It
is well-known fact that technology influences education. Social Learning
networks offer one of the best platforms for the next generation learning
methods.
- Social
Learning Promotes Confidence through Coordination: Learning is always attractive when you learn from peers and
partners rather than from elders or professionals. Collaborating on a
problem produces different ways to attain practical solutions. Free exchange
of ideas and views causes quickly arriving at better results.
- Unorthodox
Question-Answer Sessions and Free Conversations: Social Learning
increases transparent communication among all organizational members—facilitating
easy and open exchange of comments and views, thus improving knowledge of
the employees.
- More
Effective than other Methods of Learning:
learning from others, in the presence of others, and in groups, provides
opportunities for better learning that would otherwise have been
impossible. For one-to-one learning process to occur there is no need for
any teacher or expert. Just by having someone with more skill or knowledge
will do.
Why it is
Considered as Better
Happening
outside of a formal class room or a planned structure, Social Learning focuses
on sharing information, collaboration, and co-operation, thus improving
possibility of wide and in depth knowledge being spread across the organization
in a practical and fast way.