In this week course resources, I read about behaviorist learning theory. I will discuss how reinforcing effort” and “homework and practice correlate with the principles of behaviorist learning theory which embeds technology. Behaviorist learning theory has fallen out of favor in our education system, but many teachers still use the strategy. Dr. Orey (Laureate 2009) explains that behaviorism resolves around operant conditioning, which involves positive reinforcement and punishment. Today’s society mainly leans towards using positive reinforcement to encourage academic achievement. Punishment is not encouraged by the leaders of public educators.
Reinforcing effort is never talked about at the federal, state or local government level. Our district, and school administrator never mention anything about reinforcing student effort. Since the adoption of No Child Left Behind, scores are the main focus of attention. Many of the technology programs used by school districts are geared towards raising test scores. But Pitler, Hubbell, Kuhn, and Maleenoski 2007, recommend that we teach students the importance of effort. We should have students keep track of their own efforts and achievements by using data collection software like Microsoft Excel, and Survey Monkey. Students that are encouraged to put forth the effort, should see some academic improvement. Students see the results as it translate to a letter grade. They will not have to fear putting forth all their hard work and still fail. Some of the category suggested for evaluation are, class notes, attention, participation, homework, and studying.
Homework and practice help students to reassess what they were taught. I think assigning homework using technology has its advantages. Students are comparing only their own success. They get instant feedback. Pressure for timely completion is not as important as mastering the skill. Lastly, students don’t have to be embarrassed about not knowing an answer. On line tutorials like Internet4Classrooms Tutorials are also very good for helping students learn new skills. They present how to do certain skills you may had a difficult time with the classroom. Tutorials give students a step by step method in completing the task and the tutorial can be replayed as many times as needed.
The idea of using technology more for both reinforcing effort and for homework is a good idea for teachers that don’t mind the behavior learning theory. Using technology allows the use of the multisensory approach. Reading just a textbook bore many students. Students become more responsible for the own success when they are tracking their own effort.
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Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer) (2008). Behaviorist Learning Theory, Baltimore: [Educational video].
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD.
Susan Brooks and Bill Byles, Internet4classrooms: www.internet4classrooms.com.
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Rodney, I like your thoughts about effort. It is incredibly true that is seems all administrators care about is test scores. This makes sense because of the emphasis that NCLB has placed on them. In my district, stressing teaching students the importance of effort and backing it with solid data has not been discussed even once in my 3.5 years in the district. If this simple yet complex idea could be taught and learned at low grade levels and continued through junior high and high school, I think that test scoring would rise on its own. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteJosh
ReplyDeleteI think test scores would rise. But more important then test scores is building a classroom of students that work hard, determine, loyal, attentive, enthusiastic and civil. Those students that are passionate about what they produce are the kind of students I want around me. They are the kind of people employers dream of.
Rodney
Rodney,
ReplyDeletePositive reinforcement is the main type of reinforcement that is seen in the classroom. However, I don't think that negative reinforcement is entirely out of the picture. For instance, what about the students that are acting up for attention but you and the rest of the class are ignoring them to decrease the behavior? Which type of reinforcement would you prefer though, positive or negative?
As far as test scores are concerned, I agree with what you posted. The main thing that administrators are worried about right now, is how to raise our test scores to meet No Child Left Behind. Schools are now focusing all of their attention on the lower achieving students in order to raise their scores, that the gifted students are not being as enriched, and the students in the between the lower and higher achieving students are not being challenged to their full potential. This, however is where technology can be a great asset. We can use computers and technology to challenge our average students and enrich our gifted students.
Also, I think you have the right idea about effort. If students track their effort, they will see why they are or are not performing well. I think using technology to track effort is a great idea.
Melissa Herb
Melissa,
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you about negative reinforcement. It definitely had its place in my life coming up. It made me respect adults, and made me too afraid to act up. I explained in one of my earlier post that I came along during the corporal punishment era. I did not suffer any neurological or psychological disorders. A little sting made me pay attention because I didn't like pain. I thank my mom and all my teachers who took time to lovingly correct me while I was growing up. It turned me into a fine supporting citizen of our country who’s been married for 25 years, with three children and one grand. I never been in trouble with the law and even got a clean driving record. But you read some of these discipline books on how to raise and teach a child, you would think that I might be in some type of institution with a straitjacket.