"The things we call pleasant have an
energizing or strengthening effect on our behavior" (Skinner, 1972). Teachers use the Behaviorist theory, maybe
only marginally, every day. It might be
a smile at a student for turning in his homework on time or a student losing a
recess for unacceptable behavior. This week
my task is to find correlations of behaviorist learning theory with two
instructional strategies. The strongest connection I found was the use of positive
reinforcements which are presentations of a stimuli that increases the
probability of a response. In this case,
students are learning to choose an acceptable behavior over and unacceptable
one (Orey, 2011).
Reinforcing
effort and providing feedback in an instructional strategy that directly
connects with the behaviorist theory. The
success depends on the stimulus and response of the student and his associations
(Orey, 2011). In order for students to
understand the importance of effort, a graph can be used to track the students’
data. Pitler, Hubbell, and Kuhn provided
excellent tools for delivering recognition using technology. Student can receive praise from their peers,
teachers, parents, and administrators by posting work online with sites like Flickr
or with the help of their teachers, Artsonia Kids’ Art Museum (2012).
Assigning
Homework and Providing Practice is another teaching strategy that allows for reinforcement. Homework
gives students the opportunity to practice, review, and apply what they have
learned (Pitler, Hubbell, & Kuhn, 2012). Teachers can offer students a
negative reinforcement by allowing students a lighter homework assignment if
they can demonstrate understanding during class. Students can receive positive reinforcement
or punishment from parents for completing assignments. Expectation contracts can be composed
together and copy can be sent home.
I was fascinated by
the concept of a flipped classroom where the students watch lectures online for
homework and apply their learning in the classroom. Teachers will still praise students for
completing the homework but the real reinforcement comes from within the
students when they have success in applying their learning with their teacher
as a coach more than the “presenter of content” (Pitler, Hubbell, & Kuhn,
2012).
References
Orey,
M. (Ed.) (2001). Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology.
Retrieved from http://epltt.coe.uga.edu/index.php?title=Behaviorism
Pitler,
H., Hubbell, E. R., & Kuhn, M. (2012).
Using technology in the classroom
instruction that works. (2nd ed.). Alexandria, VA: ASCD
Skinner, B. (1972). Utopia through the control of human behavior. In John Maritin Rich, ed., Readings in Philosophy of Education. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth
Hi Ms. R,
ReplyDeleteFlipped classroom is a very effective strategy to stimulate student interest. One example is our 3rd grade teacher, he started creating video about their topics in Math. Students are starting to ask me if they could watch their teacher's video about math after they have finished their activity in our ICT class. They are posting comments, questions and even their own theory and discoveries in the video. It gives positive result to students as the teacher is also inviting other teachers and teacher assistants to assist him in creating the video so that students will be more interested and fascinated about Math. Our 3rd grade teacher is also facilitating teachers in our school how to flip classroom. Our teachers have seen the positive result in the 3rd grade classes and they are making time to learn from their colleague to make their classroom more fun and engaging environment for learning. I believe that a flipped classroom is an effective strategy to help students understand more the topics and their subjects.
Alpha
Alpha,
DeleteI agree! Since information is so accessible to today’s students, teachers no longer hold the role of information holders. A teacher’s time can be used so much more effectively as a “learning coach” than a “lecture giver” (Pitler, Hubbell, & Kuhn, 2012). How would you make lecture accessible to younger students in kindergarten and first grade? I could always post links on a blog but that does not guarantee the fact that all parents will assist their children.
Miss R