Behaviorism, instructional Strategies, and Technology Tools

 Educators that believe in behaviorism in the classroom view it as a system of rewards and punishments, in which they reward desired behaviors and punish inappropriate ones (Orey, 2010). Watson and Skinner are the two big names associated with Behaviorism. We know that there are two types of behaviorism. They are classical and operant. Behaviorist educators associate reinforcing effort and providing recognition as major instructional strategies to this theory. We know there are positive and negative reinforcements. This could be taking things away or adding them. The use of technology tools that are open ended, foster curiosity and the joy of discovery, and that do not provide “correct” or “wrong” responses (Moorhead, 2014) are essential for improving the classroom. These strategies and technology work hand in hand to support student learning. We need to use technology as support and not the main way of delivery or as an add on. We can provide the use of technology as a positive reinforcement, data collection, and analysis tools (Pitler, Hubbell, & Kuhn, 2012). If the students are doing what you ask of them they could be rewarded with computer time. You could have rubrics for assignments available online or through a classroom website for the students to know exactly what the teacher expects from them. An online grade book could be made available for parents and students to be able to analyze grades and progress.

In my classroom, I am a big believer in rewards and punishments. As in giving things and taking them away. I also try to provide recognition and praise when it is due. I could see using Micropoll.com in my classroom. It is a form of web-based survey. I could use it as a way for my students to give me feedback, thoughts and feelings, or gather information on students that like or dislike specific things. This is evident in ISTE educator standard 2.a. (2020) Shape, advance and accelerate a shared vision for empowered learning with technology by engaging with education stakeholders and the ISTE student standard 3.c. (2020) Students curate information from digital resources using a variety of tools and methods to create collections of artifacts that demonstrate meaningful connections or conclusions.

My scholarly journal article asks the question “What is he doing and Why is he doing it?” (Watson, 2009). This allowed me to see another person’s view on this theory. My popular source was a YouTube video. It was two guys role playing what Behaviorism is in the classroom using examples. It gives you real life classroom behaviors and how to get them accomplished.

I can apply this to Genius Hour by having everything I want the students to find out, learn, and answer on a checklist and displayed on the board. When the students choose a topic and are able to complete the checklist, they can reflect on what they found and described what they learned. When students are given the opportunity to choose and learn about something they are interested in it gives them more ownership and drive to complete the activity.

References

Moorhead, L. (2014, September 3). There’s no app for good teaching. Retrieved from http://ideas.ted.com/theres-no-app-for-good-teaching/

Orey, M. (Ed.). (2010). Emerging perspectives on learning, teaching, and technology. Retrieved from http://textbookequity.org/Textbooks/Orey_Emergin_Perspectives_Learning.pdf

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

International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). (2020). Standards for educators. Retrieved from https://www.iste.org/standards/for-educators

International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). (2020). Standards for students. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards/standards/for-students-2016

Watson, J. (2009). Behaviorism. New Brunswick, New Jersey: Transaction Publishers. Retrieved from https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=PhnCSSy0UWQC&oi=fnd&pg=PR10&dq=behaviorism+peer+reviewed+articles&ots=tX7aoNtwax&sig=VataTh0CcwKJvoezWkUTSKlqUxI#v=onepage&q&f=false