Behaviorism in the Classroom

 

Behaviorism is a theory that “emphasize changes in behavior that result from stimulus-response associations made by the learner” (Orey, 2010, p.271). Watson and Skinner are two behaviorists that came up with the theory that “human behavior resulted from specific stimuli that elicited certain responses” (Orey, 2010, p.271). The use of behaviorism in the classroom is using the instructional strategy of adopting the model of “rewarding desirable behaviors and punishing inappropriate ones” (Orey, 2010, p.271).  Another instructional strategy that is under observational learning is the use of modeling. When students observe from their peers or adults around them, they “acquire many favorable and unfavorable responses” (Orey, 2010, p. 275).  This is a learning strategy that can be beneficial to both the teacher and to students as students “work for things that bring them positive feelings” or “approval from people they admire” (Orey, 20101, p. 276). With the use of technology, we are able to bring in the theory of behaviorism into the classroom by using “technology as a starting point, a way to introduce new experiences and modes of expression” (Moorhead,2014) It is important that we do not allow technology to replace good teaching, but instead to use it to help enhance student learning. For example, using automated classroom response systems can be a powerful way to “gather and disseminate specific feedback” (Pitler, 2012, p.45). By gathering data through the help of technology on our students, we can teach students to reflect “in the moment and to access their progress over time” (Moorhead, 2014).  

Currently, I have been using multiple technology programs this year as I teach remotely. One program that I use is the usage of Zearn for math. With the usage of modeling and directing students to work on problems together in class during whole group instruction, I am able to have students observe, ask questions and participate before having students do the same thing on Zearn. Zearn is a platform where they can practice the skills and strategies and get immediate feedback we are learning in our lessons as a class. This platform also allows me to monitor and track students progress as it gives me alerts and notifications when students are stuck on a problem or are on a question for a long period of time. Zearn is a great program that doesn’t allow technology make learning easy allowing students to wrestle and push against “a student’s cognitive gap, that space between what a student knows and doesn’t know” (Moorhead, 2014). By allowing students to engage in behaviorist-based strategies through technology, it meets the ISTE standard of becoming an empowered learner as students are “use technology to seek feedback that informs and improves their practices” (ISTE, 2016). These behaviorist-based learning strategies are beneficial to the students as they “change behaviors to satisfy the desires they have learned to value” in the classroom. (Orey, 2010, p. 276).

Jack Hassard discussed the importance of applying behaviorism learning principles in the classroom by the usage of social reinforcers. Social reinforcers are a powerful tool when praise is genuine. For praises to be effective in the classroom, “the teacher’s praise should be informative.” (Hassard,2017). BF Skinner explained the theory of operant conditioning of “learning by trial and error” (BlueSofaMedia, 2012). For instance, when I am applying this strategy in the classroom, my praises should be noting what was praiseworthy, “be genuine, sincere, and credible.” (Hassard,2017). In order to have student learning flourish in the classroom, having steps to create a positive classroom climate is also important in the means of operant conditioning. One way to do this is “rather than pointing out what students are doing wrong, point out what they are doing right” (Hassard,2017). This will reinforce the correct aspect that teachers want students to know and learn. In conclusion, instead of punishment for getting the question wrong, reward the student with praise when they have certain parts of the answer correct.

I want to integrate behaviorism learning theories when I am doing my lessons on Hour of Coding by celebrating student work. This will model and set examples and expectations for students that are learning what to do for their coding lessons. For example, during class, I will encourage the sharing of screens during my live instruction time to show what students were able to code and able to create in their hour of coding block. By allowing students to discuss and share what they were able to code, I want to model the importance of celebrating work and the usage of effective time management. This will also discourage students that are not using their time effectively by having examples of peers in the class that are creating and coding during HoC.

 

References:

BlueSofaMedia. (2012). Use a Learning Theory: Behaviorism. Retrieved November 19, 2020, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYDYzR-ZWRQ&feature=emb_title

Hassard, J. (2017). 2.5 Behavioral Theories of Learning. Retrieved November 19, 2020, from https://www.jackhassard.org/mos/2.5.html

International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). (2016). Standards for

students. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards/standards/for-students-2016

Moorhead, L. (2014, September 3). There’s no app for good teacher. Retrieved from

http://ideas.ted.com/theres-no-app-for-good-teaching/

Orey, M. (Ed.). (2010). Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology.

Retrieved from http://textbookequity.org/Textbooks/Orey_Emergin_Perspectives_Learning. Pdf

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E.R. , & Kuhn, M. (2012). Using technology with classroom instruction that

works (2^nd ed.). Alexandria, VA: ASCD.