BEHAVIORISM IN LEARNING

Revisiting Learning Experiences and Behaviorism

Behaviorism, this aspect is en-grained within us, it is in our everyday actions and reactions. In this approach the observable and quantifiable behavior of a learner is studied. This helps to guide a learner wisely, helps to augment the learning process and guides the learner to accomplish a pre-set goal.

The learning experience from my elementary years was nearly of behaviorist nature.

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The teacher in early year school emphasized on repeating as a way of learning. This repeating though it appeared boring to us, he was inculcating a learning habit in the students by doing this regularly. Consistent repetition is necessary for a positive reinforcement. The teacher also employed a stimulus(questions) and response(answers) framework which is another aspect for behaviorism. 

Referring to the book: Skinner, B. F. (1976). About Behaviorism. New York: Vintage Books.(pg161): "The point of education is to present the student with the appropriate repertoire of behavioral responses to specific stimuli and to reinforce those responses through an effective reinforcement schedule." 

Hence a small, consistent repetition of the tables was helping us learn the tables faster.

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The appreciation on answering out in the class was a positive reinforcement that optimized the learning process. The goal was to know all the times tables..and this approach of repetitive study and positive reinforcement guided to reach the pre-set goal.

Referring to the website: 

http://gsi.berkeley.edu/gsi-guide-contents/learning-theory-research/behaviorism/

"A student who receives verbal praise and good grades for correct answers (positive reinforcement) is likely to learn those answers effectively; one who receives little or no positive feedback for the same answers (negative reinforcement) is less likely to learn them as effectively."