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Behaviourism
Actions and thoughts are behaviours that react to stimuli. Learning can be achieved by predictable reactions to stimuli. Individuals' response to different environmental stimuli alters their behaviours. If behaviour is modified, so too is learning. Since behaviour can be modified through reward and punishment systems, knowledge can also be taught through systematic learning techniques in a teacher-centered environment. As a result, all that matters are observable stimuli and observable responses. In other words, knowledge is inert and individuals are passive recipients of knowledge. Thus, behaviourism proposes that knowledge looks the same for everyone and does not need to account for individual differences.
Social interaction has limited impact on individuals' ability to learn. The extent to which social interaction is important resides in its ability to alter behaviour, such as verbal cues and reinforcement.
Social interaction has limited impact on individuals' ability to learn. The extent to which social interaction is important resides in its ability to alter behaviour, such as verbal cues and reinforcement.
Role of the Educator
Educators plays a central role in knowledge development as they are responsible for establishing an environment that promotes desired behaviours, and discourages undesired behaviours. This is achieved through positive and negative reinforcement, rewards and punishment. The educator is solely responsible for evaluation.
Role of the Learner
Learners plays a role in the learning process, but the learners's role is more passive than in other learning theories, like constructivism. Learners are considered as more of a receiver of information, often repeating information given to him by the educator. Learners may be encouraged to engage with the learning process and their peers within the group by positive reinforcement. Lack of engagement or negative contributions, could be minimized by the facilitator using negative reinforcement. Motivation, in this case, is primarily external.
Role and Nature of Technology
Technology can play a key role in promoting certain behaviours by providing opportunities for rewards (badges, points), positive reinforcement (encouragements), and punishments. For example, the page on our class's Blackboard platform that tallies our activities on our site page can be considered a behaviourist use of technology as it quantifies participation, which, in turn, can be used as a reward system if instructors choose to use this information to determine a participation mark.
Other examples include online games, reward systems (badges/points), online competitions.
Other examples include online games, reward systems (badges/points), online competitions.
Limitations
- Behaviour is not generalizable to all human behaviour
- Denies idea of free will
- Does not give room for higher level thinking and problem solving.
- Ignores social dimensions of learning.
- Behaviourism falls short in the overall understanding of human personalities and human differences.
Behaviourism seems straightforward, you debate your next course of action.
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References
Standridge, M.. (2002). Behaviorism. In M. Orey (Ed.),Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology.
Available online: http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php?title=Behaviorism
Hautau, B. L., Skinner, C. H., Pfaffman, J. Foster, S., & Clark, J. C. (2008). Extending the external validity of the color wheel procedures: Increasing on-task behavior in an urban kindergarten classroom. Journal of Evidence-Based Practices for Schools, 9, 3-17.
Available online:http://pdfs.scarecroweducation.com/JE/BPW/JEBPWinter08.pdf
Available online: http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php?title=Behaviorism
Hautau, B. L., Skinner, C. H., Pfaffman, J. Foster, S., & Clark, J. C. (2008). Extending the external validity of the color wheel procedures: Increasing on-task behavior in an urban kindergarten classroom. Journal of Evidence-Based Practices for Schools, 9, 3-17.
Available online:http://pdfs.scarecroweducation.com/JE/BPW/JEBPWinter08.pdf