Final answer:
True, learning is most effective when observational learning, including steps such as attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation, occurs before practice and is repeated during it.
Step-by-step explanation:
True, learning can indeed be most effective when modeling occurs before practice and is repeated at various intervals during practice. This approach follows the observations made by Albert Bandura, who advocated for the observational learning theory. According to Bandura, there are critical steps in the modeling process: attention, retention, reproduction, and motivation. For effective learning, one must first pay attention to the model's behavior, retain the observed behavior in memory, be able to reproduce the behavior accurately, and have the motivation to do so, often influenced by vicarious reinforcement or punishment.
For example, a live model could demonstrate desired behaviors in person, making the learner more likely to pay attention and remember what was demonstrated. Symbolic models, like those in TV shows or online videos, can also effectively impart knowledge for later reproduction. Repeated exposure to modeling, interspersed with practice, reinforces the retention and ability to reproduce the learned behavior effectively, leading to a more engrained skill set.