Behaviorism in Practice

This weeks learning resource, Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works, explored two strategies that closely align with principles of the behaviorist learning theory. First, “Reinforcing Effort” and relating it to immediate feedback is an example of reinforcing desirable behaviors and punishing or presenting no reinforcement for undesirable behaviors. This strategy uses each student’s level of effort and its relationship to achievement. If students gain positive rewards for high achievement due to putting forth effort, they will continue to put forth effort in the future. An example that my fifth grade team and I use to reinforce effort is a bulletin board in the hallway titled “Excellence Requires Responsibility”. Every student gets their mug shot photo placed on the board. If they have a missing assignment, their photo is removed from the board. At the end of each quarter, the students who have remained on the bulletin board receive some sort of positive reinforcement.

The second strategy, “Homework and Practice” is another example of using behaviorist methods. Not all homework and practice activities are alike, but some homework and practice activities require immediate feedback to the students. Almost every teacher that I have observed uses some form of positive reinforcement or negative reinforcement after students have completed homework. This feedback provides students with a stimulus that increases the probability that the students will do it again or will correct the mistakes made. Students need to practice concepts and skills that they have learned, so they become proficient. For example, fifth graders need to learn the multiplication table. To become efficient with the multiplication table, students need to practice over and over improving on their speed and accuracy of recall. Students receive immediate feedback by answering quickly and accurately. After reading the spreadsheet software section in the text, I could have the students record their results every week in Microsoft Excel and then graph the information in a bar graph or line graph charting their results and progress. There are also examples provided in the text that present information in a programmed instruction format. One of these examples is Eddie Awards. The EdAlive program is formed to help every child flourish when their sense of self-worth is affirmed. I could not explore the entire program without purchasing the program, but the tutorial gave affirmation when responses were correct. I understand that behaviorist methods alone are not enough to meet the needs of my students, but they are valid in some situations to help students learn.