Behaviorism

What role does technology play in this?

Basic Behaviorism

• Behavior and content can be learned through reinforcements, associating new material to old stimuli, and modeling (social learning)

• Early behaviorists based learning modules around contingencies of reinforcement:– What are the circumstances surrounding

reinforcement?– What conditions are reinforcing behaviors (good or

bad)?– If the learning is not the desired outcome, how we

can change the reinforcer?

Basic Behaviorism

• As soon as behaviorism was developing, so was the use of technology to prove the power of the theory

• Sydney L. Pressey, John B. Watson, B.F. Skinner, pioneered techniques leading to computer assisted instruction (CAI)

Computer Assisted Instruction• Programmed instruction where material is

broken into “frames”• When the learner proves that the material has

been learned, he or she is given positive reinforcement

• New material is presented that builds upon the old

• Several Principles at Work:– Immediate feedback– Complex learning through response chains– Dialogue with instructor at every point

History of TechnologyAs It Pertains to Behaviorism

• 1925 Multiple Choice Machine (S.L. Pressey)

• 1950s Program created by Norman Crowder trains troubleshooters in US Air Force to find malfunctions in electronic equipment

• 1958 Skinner’s Rote-and-Drill Teaching Machine

More Recent Uses of Technology As It Pertains to Behaviorism

• Computer Assisted Instruction Practices– Accelerated Math: personalized

assignments printed, bubble score sheets are scanned, computer prints immediate scores, reports, and feedback

– Educational Online Games (e.g. www.brainPOP.com)

More Recent Uses of Technology As It Pertains to Behaviorism

• Training or StAIR modules– MIOSHA Bloodborne Pathogen training– Classroom Instruction StAIR (e.g.

Solving Systems of Linear Equations)– Microsoft Flight Simulator for Educational

Use…are just a few examples!

Which of the following scenarios is missing a step in a behaviorist

teaching approach?Teacher lectures a topic, asks a question, student answers

correctly and receives candy from the teacher.

Phys. Ed. Teacher covers unit on baseball and takes all students who hit a homerun to a Tigers game.

Coach asks players to work hard in the big game, they all do, and coach cancels sprints at the next practice.

Mom talks to young child about importance of picking up his toys after he finishes playing with them, child picks up after himself, and mom hugs child.

What is Behaviorism?

Is this presentation an example of using technology for behaviorist principles?

YES NO

Oh Yeah!

Bummer, remember...

Computer Assisted Instruction•Programmed instruction where material is broken into “frames”•When the learner proves that the material has been learned, he or she is given positive reinforcement•New material is presented that builds upon the old•Several Principles at Work:

–Immediate feedback–Complex learning through response chains–Dialogue with instructor at every point

Congratulations! You’re right!

Moving on…

There are several reasons this scenario doesn’t fit:• Students may not find a trip to a Tigers baseball game rewarding.• The baseball unit probably covered batting strategies, but hitting a homerun isn’t a skill that can be taught.

Recall that Behaviorism is…

• Behavior and content can be learned through reinforcements, associating new material to old stimuli, and modeling (social learning)

• Early behaviorists based learning modules around contingencies of reinforcement:– What are the circumstances surrounding reinforcement?– What conditions are reinforcing behaviors (good or bad)?– If the learning is not the desired outcome, how we can

change the reinforcer?• As soon as behaviorism was developing, so was the use of

technology to prove the power of the theory• Sydney L. Pressey, John B. Watson, B.F. Skinner, pioneered

techniques leading to computer assisted instruction (CAI)

References

• Early CBI Systems and Their Antecedents Timeline, http://argyll.epsb.ca/mkarstad/timeline/

• Learning Theories of Instructional Design, http://www.usak.ca/education/coursework/802papers/mergel/brenda.htm

• Scheepers, Detken, Learning Theories: Behavorism, April 8, 2000, http://hagar.up.ac.za/catts/learner/2000/scheepers_md/projects/loo/theory/behavior.html

• Yovits, M.C. (Ed.), Advances in Computers, Vol. 18. New York: Academic Press, 1979, pp. 173-229.

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