The principles of behaviorist learning theories are: operant conditioning and behavior management (Laureate Education Inc. 2010). Operant conditioning is broken down to reinforcement and punishment. Behavior management in schools is mainly done through visual consequences like moving a clip next to your name down a spot when you do something that is not permitted. The basic operant conditioning has been used in education for years : if you do not do your homework then you will not pass the class. The problem with this practice is that today’s students do not know what it takes to make that operant conditioning relevant. They do not want to spend the 30 to 45 minutes to do their homework because it is not relevant to them.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2010). [Webcast]. Behaviorist Learning Theory. Baltimore: Author.
You did a great job explaining the main ideas of the behaviorist learning theory. You stated that today's students do not know what it takes to make operant conditioning relevant. What do you think teachers should do instead of homework to ensure that practice is happening in order to master skills?
ReplyDeleteHey Heath,
ReplyDeleteI agree that students do not want to spend time at home doing homework. My school has a policy that no more than 15% of a students grade can be based on homework assignments. I think this policy or rule was put into place because many of our students have troubled home lives and do not have the resources to complete the work.
I feel that incorporated technolodgy into homework assignments would help motivate some students to find relevance in the work. This may not help with the majority of our students because of the issues they have at home. How do you make homework relevant to students who live in poverty?