EME 2040

1. Behaviorism Theory
Written by Molly Howell

2. Menu
 What?
 Who?
 How?
 My Classroom

3. The Behaviorism Theory
 World view that operates by the principle of stimulus
response
 Positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement will
increase the probability that the behavior will be repeated
 Consequences and punishment, negative and positive,
will decrease the likelihood that the behavior will be
repeated

4. The Behaviorist Theory Continued
 Mostly focuses on teacher-centered instruction
 Lectures, demonstrations, tutorials
 Concerned with observable and measurable aspects
of human behavior
 All behavior is caused by external stimuli
 Educational effects are key in developing basic skills
and foundations of understanding in all subject areas
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5. People of the Behaviorist Approach
 B.F. Skinner
 Most influential of American psychologists
 Theory of operant conditioning
 Radical Behaviorism
 John B Watson
 Thought psychology should be the science of observable
behavior
 Beginning of the development of learning science
 The “Little Albert” Experiment

6. Ivan Pavlov
 Russian physiologist
 His research on the physiology of digestion led to the
first experimental model of learning, classical
conditioning
 Nobel Prize winner, 1904
 Best known for Pavlov’s Dog Experiment
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7. Classroom Implications of Behaviorism
 Direct, teacher-centered instruction
 Demonstrations, drills, lectures
 Teachers would check student’s work regularly
 Providing feedback as well as encouragement
 Students can be taught best when focus is directly
on the content
 Breakingdown skills and information to be learned is
best when put into small units

8. Implications of Behaviorism View
 Teachers must set up highly structured lesson plans
 Punishing bad behavior, encouraging good
behavior
 Behaviorist approach is best with young learners
 No lesson plan can work if completely behavioral-
free
 Discipline helps keep classroom moving along
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9. My Classroom Using Behaviorism View
 Students will be rewarded for good behavior, and
consequences will be given for bad behavior
 The teacher, myself, must have well-structured
lesson plans for students to follow
Help my students understand that more effort
equals higher grades.

10. My Classroom and Behaviorism Approach
 I will use high achieving and successful peers as
models for other students
 Reinforcement will strengthen a behavior while
punishment will weaken a behavior
 Using Technology with Instruction that Works by
Pitler et al (2007) (Book)
 Educational strategies such as “Reinforcing Effort” and
“Homework and Practice” Effort is number one factor
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