What is learning theory and why use it? How do people learn? A question of interest to both students and teachers. People are different, so it should be obvious that there are different methods of learning and teaching. This article will focus on social cognitive learning theory (SCLT), constructivist learning theory (CLT) and their connection to practice. How each theory can be used to guide and plan educational programs will be discussed with examples to demonstrate how learning outcomes can vary with application of the theory. SCLT vs CLTPajares (2002) described Bandura's SCLT as a triadic reciprocity resulting from the interaction of personal and biological cognitive aspects. factors, environmental influences and behavior. Observational learning, the central theme of SCLT, means that we learn from the actions of others. One evening, while preparing for a band concert, I observed a band member playing the cymbals, which was basically done by banging the two cymbals together. A one-year-old girl belonging to another band member turned her head toward the cymbal player and after a moment began banging her two toys together. We all start by imitating and repeating what others do and as we mature, the process becomes more and more engaging involving attention, retention, production and motivation (Pajares, 2002). Paying attention means that the observer has the ability to selectively observe the actions of another. The observer retains the information to duplicate it and, by engaging in the observed behavior, reproduces what was observed. If the results are pleasant or appreciated, the student will adopt the behavior for future use. An example is watching a cooking show. If the final product, always shown at the beginning of the s......middle of the paper......world” – Nelson Mandela.Works CitedCurrent Nursing. (2012). Application of theory in nursing practice. Retrieved from http://www.currentnursing.com/nursing_theory/application_nursing_theories.htmlDenler, H., Wolters, C., & Benzon, M. (2014). Social cognitive theory. Retrieved from http://www.education.com/reference/article/social-cognitive-theory/McEwen, M., & Willis, E. (2011). Theoretical foundations for nursing. (3rd ed.). Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.Parajes, F. (2008). Self-efficacy beliefs in academic contexts: A framework. Retrieved from Emory University website: http://www.des.emory.eduShuell, T. (2013). Learning theories. Retrieved from http://www.education.com/reference/article/theories-of-learning/Spigner-Littles, D., & Anderson, C. E. (1999). Constructivism: A paradigm for older students. Educational gerontology, 25(3), 203-209