Various Philosophies of Education (Behaviorism)

Flashcards covering the key concepts, figures, and applications of Behaviorism in education, based on lecture notes.

Behaviorism

A theory of learning based on the idea that all behaviors are acquired through conditioning, and conditioning occurs through interaction with the environment. It is also a philosophy of education based on the belief that human behavior can be explained based on response to external stimuli.

Ivan Pavlov (1849-1946)

His research is regarded as the first to explore the theory of classical conditioning: that stimuli cause responses and that the brain can associate stimuli together to learn new responses. His experiments demonstrate that behavior is learned from the environment, must be observable, and is a product of the formula stimulus-response.

John B. Watson (1878-1958)

An influential American psychologist who formally established behaviorism with the 1913 publication of 'Psychology as the Behaviorist Views It.' His focus was on observing and predicting how subjects outwardly respond to external stimuli. He is remembered as the first psychologist to use human test subjects in experiments on classical conditioning.

Burrhus Frederic (B.F.) Skinner (1904–1990)

An American psychologist known for his experiment called 'Operant Conditioning.' He introduced the idea of radical behaviorism and defined operant conditioning, positing that learning occurs through reinforcing an appropriate voluntary response to a stimulus in the environment.

Emphasis of Behaviorism in Education

Focuses on the study of observable behaviors, believing that most behaviors are learned, stimulus-specific, and can be taught, changed, or modified. In a classroom setting, behaviorists believe that the best educational environment can be obtained when student behavior is shaped by arranging specific conditions for learning. Emphasizes the role of environmental factors in influencing behavior.

Why Teach (Behaviorism)

Behaviorist schools are concerned with the modification and shaping of students' behavior by providing for a favorable environment. Impacts how students react and behave in the classroom, and suggests that teachers can directly influence how their students behave. Can be an effective way to influence students to adopt positive behaviors and discourage negative behaviors.

What to Teach (Behaviorism)

Behaviorist teachers teach students to respond favorably to various stimuli in the environment to show students how they should react and respond to certain stimuli.

How to Teach (Behaviorism)

Behaviorist teachers 'ought to arrange environmental conditions so that students can make the responses to stimuli.' Physical variables like light, temperature, arrangement of furniture, size, and quantity of visual aids have to be controlled to get the desired responses from the learners. Teachers ought to make the stimuli clear and interesting to capture and hold the learner's attention. Provide appropriate incentives to reinforce positive responses and weaken or eliminate the negative ones.