Corina VEDEANU1, Ion STEGĂROIU2
Abstract. Learning is often seen as an individual endeavor, yet it is deeply embedded in social contexts. The aim of this article is to explore the hidden metaphors of learning through three frameworks: crown shyness, mirror neurons, and social learning theories. These concepts are connected to the theories of Lev Vygotsky and Albert Bandura, as they support the idea that learning is shaped by social interaction. Crown shyness, a natural phenomenon in which trees create safe gaps between their canopies, serves as a metaphor for the balance between individual autonomy and collective growth reflected in the classroom. Similarly, mirror neurons support the biological basis of learning through observation and imitation, reinforcing Bandura’s Social Learning Theory. Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) and the concept of scaffolding illustrate how guided interactions shape cognitive development. By integrating insights from the natural ecosystems and the neuroscience of learning, this article argues that effective education mirrors organic principles of growth, fostering observational learning through imitation, and empathy.
Keywords: crown shyness; mirror neurons; social learning; observational learning; zone of proximal development.
DOI 10.56082/annalsarscijkd.2025.1.76
1 Valahia University of Târgovişte, Aleea Sinaia Street, 130004, Târgovişte, Romania; ORCID No. 0009-0009-5228-714X; vedeanucorina@yahoo.com (corresponding author)
2 Valahia University of Târgovişte, Aleea Sinaia Street, 130004, Târgovişte, Romania; Academy of Romanian Scientists, Ilfov Street 3, 050094 Bucharest, Romania; ORCID No. 0009-0008-5946-2601; stegaroiuion@yahoo.com
PUBLISHED in Journal of Knowledge Dynamics, Volume 2, No1