Summary of the Article:

Imitation is a natural learning process, especially in children. It involves both conscious and unconscious copying of others, with various types categorized by Drever and McDougall. Imitation in learning has evolved from being considered a hindrance to creativity to being recognized as a time-saving and socially beneficial method. It is particularly useful for teaching, supporting weaker students, and fostering moral and educational growth through role models, good teaching practices, and exposure to exemplary individuals and materials.

The Role of Imitation in Learning: Types and Laws Explained:

1- Imitation in Learning:

The most common and natural tendency in children is to imitate or copy i.e. to do what others are doing. In nature, imitation is a perceptive process , but it also happens unconsciously. All imitative functions are borrowed, children usually imitate adults and people who are looked up to. Children like to imitate their parents and teachers and this is evident in their speech and dress. Imitation has no logical explanation, it is an involuntary act that is easily perceived by others.

2- Types of Imitation:

Drever has described two types of imitation. Deliberate (Conscious) Imitation and Unconscious Imitation - In Deliberate Imitation, a person deliberately imitates others, for example, having hair cut following film stars and copying their styles is deliberate imitation. In other type of imitation which is unconscious imitation, a person unintentionally imitates others, children usually imitate others unconsciously.

McDougall further described two types of imitation: Primary imitation and Secondary imitation. Primary imitation is further divided into three types.

(i) Sympathetic Imitation:

When one feels exactly the same as others feel, it is called sympathetic imitation, for example, children start crying themselves after seeing others cry.

(ii) Ideo-Motor Imitation:

In this type, the movements of others are imitated. For example, during a hockey match, when a player raises his hockey in the air, the fans in the stadium also raise their hands.

(iii) Deliberate Imitation:

In deliberate imitation, humans deliberately imitate the actions or steps of others.

McDougall divides secondary imitation into two more types: Meaningless Imitation and Unconscious Imitation. In meaningless imitation, a person imitates another without realizing the importance of imitation, which is mostly seen in children. Whereas in unconscious imitation one imitates others unintentionally.

Laws of Imitation:

There are various rules of imitation in learning which are explained below.

i- Imitation moves from top to bottom, from urban area to rural area and from rich to poor.

ii- All aspects of imitation are borrowed from someone.

iii- Imitation is seen more in action than in thought.

iv- It travels from internal to external direction.

v- Imitation grows rapidly.

4- Importance of Imitation in Learning:

The importance of imitation in the field of education has been realized recently, earlier it was believed that imitation destroys children's creativity and initiative and that ready-made learning is no learning at all. It is the lowest form of learning and the child acquires only poor knowledge through it and stagnates. But on the opposite side the modern experts believe that imitation learning is very useful, it saves time and money, and it is also a great source of social interaction. The importance and usefulness of imitation in learning is also evident from the following aspects.

1- The Teacher:

A teacher's attitude is worthy of imitation, he should be an expert in his subject besides this he should have a little bit knowledge of other subjects. The teacher should have high character and feelings, his habits should be pleasant, the writing of language teachers should be good.

2- Method of Teaching:

Although imitation is an unconscious process, but we have to teach some skills consciously, in this context, the purpose of the lesson should be clarified, and also, all the steps of the lesson should be clear so that the students can copy easily.

3- Weak Students:

If the weak students in study imitate the good and gifted students, then this thing can help them in learning. The teacher should encourage this and encourage the weak students to adopt the reading habits of the good students. The process of distributing prizes can also be started by introducing healthy competition among the children in the class.

4- Perfection:

It is worth noting that 100% imitation is not possible, so the teacher should not insist on ideal and perfect imitation, otherwise problems will arise for children and they will lose their ability to take initiative.

5- School:

The school should provide examples or models that children can imitate. They should hire teachers with good pronunciation and good handwriting, arrange model lectures, encourage children to keep good company because the company of bad friends would make them neglect their duties.

6- Good Books:

Children should be encouraged to read biographies of good people, especially celebrities, so that they can emulate their good deeds.