Behaviorism, our first learning theory. I really feel that, in addition to behavior management, behaviorism is alive a kicking in our schools today. This week's readings in Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works correlate with the principles of behaviorism in several ways. "Reinforcing Effort and Providing Recognition" is tied very closely with the principles. The basic belief is that a learner can be conditioned to behave in a desired way through rewards or punishments. Rewarding students for their hard work and good behavior is a wonderful way to motivate students to repeat those actions. 

     This chapter also points out that not all students see a relationship between effort and success, therefore, teaching them the relationship will go a long way to explain good behavior and encourage it in the future. Using a survey to determine a students' success in relation to their effort may not be a principle, since it is measuring the unmeasurable feelings a student has towards effort and pride, but the students can see the concrete results of the hard work that they put into their assignments. The teacher is then able to use websites to create awards to instill pride in the student in hopes of increasing the hard working behaviors they used prior. Teachers also have the ability to use samples of the students work for a gallery or web showcase, again, another way to positively reinforce the behavior deemed acceptable by the teacher, hard work. 

     "Assigning Homework and Providing Practice" gives students a chance to practice in several different ways and multiple times to perfect their skills and increase their knowledge. This correlates to the principles of behaviorism in such a way that the students' objectives are clearly defined, practice is encouraged, and the students need to be engaged and active learners. Given the appropriate assignment, students are able to use applications to practice their skills in several different ways and several skills at a time. Students get immediate feedback from their teachers to verify that the assignments are being done properly and again the reinforcement is given to the student. This will encourage the students to continue to work hard. They are given several days to complete these tasks instead of it being crammed into one or two days. 

     The "flipped" classroom is a wonderful example of the tutorial instruction being used to help the student learn a skill while at home. The students arrive in class ready to ask questions and complete activities based on the video clips provided by the teacher. This is a good example of the behaviorism principle being used in the 21st century. 

     As Dr. Orey (Laureate Education, n.d.) stated there are many detractors about behaviorism, yet we as educators follow many of it's principles on a daily basis. I guess you can not please everyone all of the time. I don't think there is one learning theory to use, each student and each lesson is unique, therefore, all learning theories are used, just in different ways and at different times.    

Laureate Education (Producer). (n.d.). Behaviorist learning theory [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E. R., & Kuhn, M. (2012). Using technology with classroom instruction that works (2nd ed.). Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

Thanks, 

Corrie