Behaviorism as an educational theory
states that students learn by receiving feedback to shape their behavior
(Standridge, 2002). The basis of this theory began with Skinner and Pavlov's
experiments with animal responses. To learn more about the history of
behaviorism, click here. While some people
question the effectiveness of behaviorism in today's classrooms, there are
effective strategies that incorporate technology that are based in this theory
(Laureate Education, Inc, 2011).
One strategy that incorporates
technology with providing the feedback to shape behavior is reinforcing effort
with spreadsheet software (Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, & Malenoski, 2007). This
strategy reinforces the behavior of effort by providing visual feedback in the
form of a spreadsheet, chart, or graph so that students can see the connection
between the effort they put forth and the points or grades they earn. Teachers
can create a rubric to using tools such as rubistar.4teachers.org
so that students can evaluate their effort consistently. The feedback provided
is visual and makes an abstract concept concrete. Students can make connections
by looking at a bar graph with side by side comparison of effort and grade to
make the connection. The result of shaping effortful behavior can be achieved
with feedback that reinforces the effort with increased points or grades. This
is a form of positive reinforcement because the student is gaining something
from their behavior (Standridge, 2002).
Another strategy based in
behaviorism is the use of technology to support homework and independent
practice. Technology can make homework a more effective process by providing
feedback without the presence of a teacher. This may happen through the use of
collaborative tools, multimedia capabilities, websites, or software
applications (Standridge, 2002). Homework and practice are only useful if they
are meaningful. One examples would be to have students use wikis such as wikispaces
in order to collaborate asynchronously with each other and the teacher while
providing feedback through the comment posts. They can also play educational
games, such as those available on Internet4Classrooms, to
practice skills and receive immediate feedback and error correction.
The true connection between
technology and behaviorism is the ability to shape a behavior by providing
immediate feedback; in the past this was only available through human contact.
The availability of technology increases the opportunity for behaviorism to
have a renaissance. It is important to remember, however, that the feedback
provided by technology cannot replace the feedback provided by a human. Most
learning is not as clear as a right or wrong answer, but many skills can be
reinforced and internalized through the use of technology as one of many
strategies applied.
Sources:
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer).
(2011). Program four: Behaviorist learning theory [Video webcast]. Bridging learning theory, instruction and
technology. Retrieved from http://laureate.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=5700267&CPURL=laureate.ecollege.com&Survey=1&47=2594577&ClientNodeID=984650&coursenav=0&bhcp=1
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M.,
& Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that
works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
Standridge, M. (2002). Behaviorism. In m. Orey (Ed.),
Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved 9/1/2012
from http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/
Thank you for the excellent links in your post. I found the Internet4Classrooms a very interesting site.
ReplyDeleteI agree that students learn by responses to their behavior and that technology can be used to provide feedback to students, in order to shape a desired behavior. However, I do not believe that students are inherently aware that effort leads to better results. Even when we tell our students that effort leads to success, many of them believe this applies to others, but not to them. Many of our students feel that others have talents or gifts that contributed more to their success than the effort put forth.
Therefore, I believe one of the most important roles we as teachers can provide is showing them how our own successes were accomplished and how we too at first stumbled, until we put forth a concerted and constant effort to improve. One suggestion for this in the textbook, Using Technology in the Classroom, is to create a web page that reports the accomplishments of students and links these accomplishments to the effort invested.
This, in conjunction with students tracking their efforts and the results that follow, should be a very powerful tool in teaching students that effort counts.