2. Originators and Key Contributors
• John B. Watson
• Ivan Pavlov
• B.F. Skinner
• E. L. Thorndike (connectionism)
• Bandura, Tolman (moving toward cognitivism)
3. Key Points
• All behavior is caused by external stimuli
• Behavior is shaped by positive and negative
reinforcement
• Negative and positive punishment decreases
the likelihood that a behavior will happen
again
• Negative and positive reinforcement increases
the likelihood that a behavior will happen
again
4. What the Teacher Does Under this
Theory
With Technology Without Technology
• The use of spreadsheets and graphs • Relies of reactive learning
shows concrete data
• Only concrete explanations
• Can use technology to show students
how to do something the “right” way • Black and white explanations
• No abstract thinking
Credits: Matt Duczeminski- Behaviorism: Uses in the Classroom
5. What the Student Does Under this
Theory
With Technology Without Technology
• Use technology to learn the “right” way of • Doesn’t use abstract thinking
doing something
• Learns by concrete reasoning and examples
• Can learn material through concrete
information •Learns by being rewarded when using
positive behavior
• Uses programs that use a reward system
•More receptive to learning new skills with
• Uses programs that give immediate immediate positive feedback
feedback on work
Text: McMahon- Behaviorism in the Classroom
Photo: WordPress.com
6. Five Principal Remedies to Fix the
Obstacle of Learning
• Give the learner immediate feedback.
• Break down the task into small steps.
• Repeat the directions as many times as possible.
• Work from the most simple to the most complex
tasks.
• Give positive reinforcement.
Credits: B.F. Skinner
7. My Own Teaching
• I like some of the ideas of the behaviorism
theory like:
– Positive reinforcement through rewarding
– Use of immediate feedback
• I don’t like some of the ideas of the
behaviorism theory like:
– Not using abstract thinking
– Using black and white explanations
