The behaviorist learning theory is centered around positive and negative reinforcement. It is a way for teachers to encourage positive behavior in the classroom and stop the negative behavior. By promoting positive behavior the teacher is encouraging students to work to the best of their ability. It shows the students that hard work is what makes them successful students.
It is important in today's society to use technology in the classroom. Technology can play an important role in the behaviorist theory. Our district currently has many technology programs to encourage positive reinforcement through technology. We have reading programs that test students reading rate and comprehension without penalty. The students read passages on the computer and then answer questions. Throughout the year the students can monitor their improvement in reading. It allows the students to see that as long as they try their best and improve each time, then they are succeeding. We also have a math program that we use where the students can earn blue ribbons when they pass a math concept. The computer program does not penalize the student if they do not pass the first time, instead they can then work for a white ribbon. It is also a program that supports effort and does not penalize them for not passing the first time. If they work hard they can eventually pass. These types of programs are supporting positive reinforcement. The students are able to see how they are improving, earn ribbons or better rankings as they work hard, and they aren't not being punished if they miss a question. They only feel good about themselves when they earn their ribbon. I have never seen students so happy with themselves for doing well on an assignment like I do when they use this technology program. They will do this program at home even if it's not assigned and tell me about how many ribbons they earned the next day. Technology is a great way to positively reinforce the effort that students put into their work.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I agree that these type of programs are great for providing instant feedback, and it is wonderful that your school has incorporated the blue ribbon rewards for positive reinforcement. Where do the students complete the tutorials? Do you have computers in your classroom or is there a computer lab?
ReplyDeleteAt my school, the students take AR tests in the library which provides and instant score with a point value, and students who earn enough points are rewarded with special field trips of acitivites throughout the year. That is really the only technology that is used at my school that provides positive reinforcment.
The examples of technology that you mentioned really do support behaviorist learning theories. As long as a child is giving effort, they will improve. I have noticed that my students like to beat their own records when it comes to applications like the ones you mentioned. That is all the motivation they need!They push themselves to do better.
ReplyDeleteStudents love video games. Many of them would spend an entire day if they could trying to beat a level. There is something to be said about that. When students are positively reinforced for something, instead of punished, they will apply themselves. The students can then see the relationship between effort and success.
Ms. Linkous,
ReplyDeleteOur school has three computer labs that the teachers may reserve throughout the day. One of those labs is rotated between the math teachers. Each math teacher gets the lab every seven days. It works out great. Also, the math teachers each have 3 to 4 computers in their classroom for the students to use. We are lucky to have these resources available.
I agree that those types of programs utilize behaviorism well in your classroom-- they also seem to reinfoce effort similarly to the spreadsheet tracking in this week's reading. Students can use this repeated practice not just to learn material but to have tangible proof that their effort is paying off. This also gives them a goal to strive for each time they sit down, when they try to beat their personal best.
ReplyDelete