Behaviorist Learning Theory
While reading our text this week something stood out to me in regards to using technology in the classroom is a great benefit to our students, the idea that, “technology makes it easier for students and teachers to track effects on effort and facilitates more immediate feedback” (Pilter, 2007 pg. 156). Immediate feedback (positive reinforcement) is something we as teachers cannot do on a daily basis to everyone of our students face to face without more hours in the day but by introducing technology such as spreadsheet software (Excel) and data collections tools that the text mentions you can track some great student trends and provided that feedback and reinforcement (Behaviorist Theory-Operant Conditioning) to everyone with little time requirements. Of course I believe this will not re-place the face to face feedback and reinforcement but it can add to it and keep it constant for the student’s sake.
The Text and the video both touched on Online web based resources. These can also be very advantageous and connect to the behaviorist theory. “Online educational games have an inherent appeal and generate immediate feedback that allows a student, parent, and teacher to monitor progress towards mastery” (Pilter, 2007 pg. 195). The building of skills to mastery through students mastering small increments of information over time provide positive reinforcements to the student to keep going the whole time learning and slowly mastering concepts needed in the class room.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Bridging learning theory, instruction, and technology. Baltimore: Author.
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
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I appreciated what you said about the immediate feedback that students and teachers need. I agree that this is an important benefit of technology being integrated with the subject area. Your point about technology not replacing face-to-face contact was good, too. Even though the software may give immediate feedback, the teacher should reinforce the results in the software.
ReplyDeleteI noticed that the text gave addresses for several game, blog and spreadsheet sites that would work well for getting the students engaged in their own progress and learning. I want to check out Campfire as a possible site to use.
ReplyDeleteI agree that there are not enough hours in the day to constantly provide positive feedback for our students and that these online programs can act as somewhat of a replacement.
ReplyDeleteAs you said in your posting, it will not have the full effect as if a teacher were reinforcing positive behavior but it can help build some confidence in students as they progress in their learning.
Hi,Eric
ReplyDeleteNice Blog and interesting post, we are all in the same page about the relationship between behaviorism theory and learning strategies, at the beginning we though that were not connected but after our research we all are agree that are definitely connected.
I would like to take this opportunity to share my thoughts with you and with the world regarding this topic. The instructional strategies described in the resources that we explore correlate with the principles of behaviorist learning theories. The following statements showed the similarities between instructional strategies and behaviorism theory.
Correlating Reinforcing Effort Strategies (RES) and Behaviorism Learning Theory. (BLT)
I find out that: RES Enhance student's understanding of relationship between effort and achievement by addressing attitude and beliefs about learning, based on taking notes, paying attention, participating, studying etc. BLT: Enhance student's understanding of relationship between active learner versus passive learner based on repetition, generalization, discrimination, frequent practice etc. RES: reinforcement is a powerful tool. BLT: reinforcement is a powerful tool. RES: key is believe in effort and keep track of it to acquire skill learning. BLT: Key is Believe in effort with frequent practice to acquire learning skills. RES: Important tool is integrating technology on activities. BLT: Important tool is also integrating technology on activities.
Correlating Homework and Practice (HAP) and Behaviorism Learning Theory. (BLT).
The following statements shown that learning strategies and behaviorism theory are connect; get your own thought. HAP: Reinforce students understanding of the content to gain proficiency with their skills by repetition. BLT: Reinforce student's understanding of the content with frequent practices to gain strengthened or skills. HAP: Amount of homework should be differentiating according to grade level. BLT: Amount of homework should be fair among grade levels. HAP: Involves observable behavior as who did homework and who did not. BLT: Uses observable behaviors rather than though. HAP: Establish a homework policy. BLT: States that activity should be programmed and focused on objective. HAP: Homework should be clear and follow up with feed back. BLT: Help when activities are clear and when the active learner has feed back. HAP: Focused on learning styles uses technology to differentiate instructions and have an engage learning environment. BLT: Focused in having active learners uses technology in the classroom to have students engage.
Juan Delgado