Behaviorism Theory

Written by Molly Howell

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What?

Who?

How?

My

Classroom

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

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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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

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 Pavlovs Dog Experiment

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Classroom Implications of Behaviorism

Direct,

teacher-centered instruction

Demonstrations, drills, lectures

Teachers

would check students work regularly

Providing feedback as well as encouragement

Students

can be taught best when focus is directly

on the content

Breaking

down skills and information to be learned is

best when put into small units

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 behavioralfree

Discipline helps keep classroom moving along

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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.

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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