Lesson 9 Bandura's Classroom Techniques

Presentation of Theoretical Construct

 

Lecture Information: Classroom Techniques

Modeling:

Bandura would definitely recommend that teachers always practice what they preach in a sense.  For Social Learning Theory the concept of modeling is a very, very powerful one.  I am sure that if you have been in a classroom at virtually any level, with a moderate amount of awareness, you have encountered a teacher who always seems to be about 5 min. late, and yet that same teacher expects perfect punctuality from students.  The teacher may expect students to work hard, but rarely works hard themselves.  I believe that Bandura would say that you first have to be that which you want from your students.  If you want respect, then you must demonstrate respect.  If you want hard working students, you demonstrate hard work.

A Subsection of this concept is the question of role models.  Students, like all of us, have both positive and negative role models.  That is to say that a positive role model is one that demonstrates productive behaviors, while a negative role model demonstrates unproductive/destructive behaviors.  For example, most students would count many an athlete as someone that they greatly admire.  This can be good for them or bad as well. The athlete's work ethic, dedication to their profession, talent, etc, can be worthy of a child's respect.  However, many times athletes compromise their moral values and knowingly ingest performance enhancing drugs in order to achieve a better performance, or basically cheat to get ahead.  That latter act would model something unproductive, or even dangerous to students.  It can communicate that it is okay to cheat if you really excel in your performance. 

Lastly, it is important to note that role models are chosen by the young'ns not by the elders.  As a teacher, you are taken as a role model.  It can be wonderful, as in the case of the students picking up on your catch phrases and using them on the playground.  It can also be unfair, as in your students seeing you stumble out of a bar after the super bowl.  You were breaking no law by drinking in the bar on your own time.  You were not arrested for drinking and driving.  But in small town America, it is very likely that the whole town will hear about it before you can even defend yourself.

Ripple Effect:

This concept comes from the idea that if you toss a stone into a pond the impact will ripple outward all across the surface of the water.  It can work the same in way in classroom management.  As you punish or praise one student the effects of that action ripples out to the rest of the classroom.  Sometimes it is rather easy to tell the difference between a "master teacher" at work and a "novice teacher" at work.  The novice is trying to manage all of the students individually while the master teacher simply walks over to the "Bull-Goose Looney," of the class (the internal leader who has high status) and punishes or praises him/her.  The effect is magnified by your working with the high status role model.  If you can get the internal leader on your side then classroom management goes much, much easier.

Directing Attention:

It is fairly common place that a teacher can get the internal leader of the class to do what you say.  However, it doesn't work all the time.  There are times when you try everything that you can think of to win over the leader but to no avail.  They are determined to work against you for whatever reasons they have.  The teacher tries to be friendly, stern, professional, funny, hip, but nothing works.  One technique that is sometimes effective in manufacturing more productive leadership is to direct the classes attention to a better role model.  The teacher simply walks over to another likely high status student and notices rather loudly that they are doing something rather well.  If you are sincere, and consistent enough, then the bad internal leader is lessened and the good internal leader begins to take their place as you continue your praise and recognition of them.  It is rather manipulative but it is your classroom, you have to get control of them.

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