Learning+Models+Comparison

//** Problem-Based Learning vs Observational (Social) Learning Theory **//



=Comparison Table =
 * Simple Comparison Criteria || Problem Based Learning || Observational Learning ||
 * Relative 'student-centeredness' || Student obtaining knowledge and helping each other to reach one goal. || Does not support student-centered. ||
 * Assessment || Teacher assess based on group participation, and knowledge content || Teacher assess based on the knowledge, skills, accuracy individually. ||
 * 21st Century Fluencies || It develop critical thinking, independent, and solving skills || Learn socially, understand aggression, obtain knowledge with the technology. ||
 * Easy to Use || Yes || Yes ||

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; text-align: center;">Alamri, Hamdan <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; text-align: center;">Dr. Kevin Pyatt <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; text-align: center;">February 01, 2012

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Introduction
===<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">The theories and models of education are numerous, but not all of them are as effective as others. Facilitators should use the most effective methods to help students to learn in the easy and useful way in order to meet their objectives. As a student and a teacher, Problem-Based Learning (PBL) is the model that I love to learn and teach with. Also, the Observational Learning Theory is one of the most important theories in the 21st century, because it focuses on observation and how students can learn from the community that they live in. === ===<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Problem-Based Learning was founded in the late 1960s at the medical school at McMaster University in Canada. Some other medical schools in Australia, the Netherlands, and the USA started to use it. Later, the model started in education, law, business, and many other fields. //Learning-Theories.com//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> defines PBL as  a pedagogical approach and curriculum design methodology often used in higher education and K-12 settings (p.1). <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">The model focuses on studying and working in groups and enriching each other with personal experiences and knowledge. The facilitator in this model just leads students and manages them instead of providing facts then testing students' ability to recall these facts via memorization<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> .<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> The group of students in this model work as problem solvers and self-directed (p.1). <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> The goal of PBL is that students can develop critical thinking, improve problem solving skills, and also, can increase motivation (p.1).=== ===<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Observational learning theory asserts that people learn from each other by imitation, and copying. It stands between cognitive, behavioral, and environmental influence. Bandura found four patterns: attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation. The teacher in this theory should introduce a behavior in front of students and ask them to pay attention to it. Obviously, they will imitate what they observed. The child starts his life imitating his parents and other children in their behaviors, so this child should observe good behavior because he or she will imitate all behaviors. I always try to show my daughter the best behavior because she always imitates what I do. Also, in the classroom where I will be a teacher, I need to show professional behaviors in the classroom whether in high school or higher levels. === ===<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Unlike observational learning, problem-based learning is student centered and focuses on group work. Moreover, problem based learning is more difficult for students than observational learning because some students have little knowledge about the subject that they should examine. Furthermore, observational learning is a dangerous model for children in this era because they could imitate some bad behavior if they observed it on TV, video games, internet, etc. Not to mention, the teacher in problem based learning is not an expert, while he is the expert in observational learning. Similarly, both models make the teacher a guide and responsible for the classroom and all students. ===

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; text-align: center;">THANK YOU <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; text-align: center;">ALAMRI

=<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> References =

1- http://www.learning-theories.com/ 2- http://ashley34.wikispaces.com/Learning+Model+Comparison