You will have recognized that your trainees

 •   Sometimes do wrong although you demonstrate right

 •   Sometimes do not execute the operation although you did so in the past

 •   Sometimes executes something which you did not demonstrate

 •   Do it differently/quicker/slower

 •   Develop their own ‘style’ of executing the operation

 •   Sometimes copy observable behaviour and even develop habits, attitudes and values

 •   Sometimes - not only copy the skill but even modify it and transfer if to new application

 These possible results of learning by imitation or ‘model learning’ can be easily understood if the basic processes which are involved in ‘learning by imitation’ is understood.

 Skill learning is a complex process which involves the four processes i.e.,

 

•   Attention process

 •   Motivation process

 •   Cognitive process

 •   Psycho-motor process

 Teaching skills by demonstration alone, without verbal (audio) and visual support will result in a blind imitation - without understanding of functional relationships.

 For the successful demonstration, we have to follow certain  points during the planning stage and then we have to follow certain other points during the demonstration and some more relevant points after the demonstration also.