This week, we studied the behaviorist theory of learning. Basically, this theory states that people will learn to repeat a behavior if they are rewarded for it and will discontinue a behavior if they are punished for it. This theory can come into play in the classroom as we attempt to get students to exhibit some specific behaviors, such as effort and homework completion, and to refrain from other behaviors.
There is a cause and effect relationship between effort and achievement that relates well with the behaviorist theory of learning. When students are made aware that a consequence of their effort is achievement, they are motivated to continue or increase their effort at the next opportunity. The key to this, as stated in Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works (Pitler, et. al, 2007), is that students need to be able to see this connection in order for them to realize that the effort they put into a task has a direct correlation to their success. The authors of the book recommend using a spreadsheet program to organize a student’s perception of effort and results of a particular activity. Then, to more easily see the relationship, students turn their spreadsheet into a graph. If the student can see that their effort is paying off in the “reward” of a good grade or high score, they are more likely to repeat the desired behavior, effort.
In addition, homework can be used as a behaviorist strategy for learning. Homework can provide a student repeated practice and will increase the likelihood that a skill will be retained. The most important factor, as described in Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works (2007), is feedback. The feedback that a student receives on his/her homework will be the reward or consequence that will motivate them to continue or change their behavior. For example, if a student completes their homework for a writing assignment and a teacher responds with a comment that he/she needs to capitalize all proper nouns, chances increase that a student will capitalize proper nouns on their next piece of writing. A teacher can also comment favorably about a skill that is present, and a student will be likely to continue to exhibit that trait. It is recommended that technology, when available and appropriate, be used to offer students a chance to practice skills that may require much repetition to learn (Pitler, et. al, 2007).
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
I am going to comment on what you said about feedback on capitalization, grammar, and so forth because those are skills I need to teach to my middle school students. In addition to the teacher giving feedback on those things, behaviorist theory also finds an application in online programs that provide practice for students in these areas. There is one site in particular that I have been exploring this week, that I want to start utilizing:
ReplyDeletewww.mmussbaum.com. There are a number of different games that students can play as practice, at home or school that relate to good writing practices.