Socio-Environmental Learning Model

Abstract

This paper examined the socio-environmental factors that affect learning based on the concept that students learn best in a mutually supportive environment where they have contact with effective teachers. The main goal was to develop a learning model taking into consideration the underlying factors that affect optimum learning. The factors were [1] the average number of effective teachers per student, [2] amount of contact time between the students and effective teachers, and [3] the amount of time spent for studying per student. A simulation was done to imitate the real-life interaction between the students and effective teachers using the AIDS model from the NetLogo software––a multi-agent programmable modeling environment. In the model, the virus was translated as ‘effective teachers’ and the infection caused by the virus as the ‘learning gained’ by the students. Results show that the average learning rate a student acquires is 84% when there is a [1] greater number of effective teachers a student is in contact with, and [2] high amount of study time, even if the student has a low amount of contact time with effective teachers. It proposed that when students are exposed to effective teachers at a high rate then these students are able to receive optimal learning.