Behaviorism in Practice

By Hiraman Byrd

byrdh@blogspot.com

     Behaviorism offers a particular perspective on how learning occurs and how teachings impacts that process.  Learning is "a persisting change in performance or performance potential that results from experience and interaction with the world" (Driscoll, 2000, p'3).

     

     This week we were asked to analysis the instructional strategies described in this week resources.  Pat Wolf broke down her view of behaviorist learning by looking a the brain.  She explained how their are 4 parts of the brain that are the most used by humans example is optical, temple, tubes, etc.  In order for our students to understand the information being given in the classroom it is up to the teachers to provide the students with information in different ways.  In my classroom we use the Smart board to help students see information in a different way, we also use the interactive whiteboard, and laptops to help students find the most accurate or up to date information.  Dr. Pat Wolfe also talked about finding meaningful patterns that will help students make the connection to the lesson being taught. Dr. Pat also talked about learning being meaningful to students so that the student can make a connection to a idea and if something is not meaningful then it will be forgotten by that individual.   

     

     As a teacher in a classroom I try to use good old repetition to help my students memorize information or theory's in my classroom.  I also try to plan effective lesson plans for that particular classroom.  One of the thing that allows me to do that is by learning your students.  Furthermore I feel if teachers understand their students then, teachers can provide innovative material to give students a extra motivation to learn.  If my second grade teacher was alive she would also like to use a hands on approach to learning new material because she feels this style keeps the students involve in the lesson.

     The most important lesson in behavior learning theory is the student must be willing to receive the information being taught by the teacher.  Students have final say in how they will receive the information, and how they will use the information when it is necessary.

Reference:

Lever-Duffy, J. & McDonald, J. (2008). Theoretical foundations (Laureate Education, Inc., custom ed.)       

      Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 1: Theoretical Foundations

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2011). Program one: Understanding the brain [Video webcast]. Bridging learning theory, instruction and technology. Retrieved from http://laureate.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=5700267&CPURL=laureate.ecollege.com&Survey=1&47=2594577&ClientNodeID=984650&coursenav=0&bhcp=1

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2011). Program two: Brain research and learning [Video webcast]. Bridging learning theory, instruction and technology. Retrieved from http://laureate.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=5700267&CPURL=laureate.ecollege.com&Survey=1&47=2594577&ClientNodeID=984650&coursenav=0&bhcp=1

Wayne State University.  (2002).  The Office for Teaching and Learning Newsletter.  

     December 2002, Volume 7, No. 2

     http://www.otl.wayne.edu/pdf/newsltr/dec02.pdf