Applying behaviorism to our schools
By Michelle Evangelista
EDI 600 Psychological Foundation of Education
School of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
March 4, 2009
I agree with the methods and theories of Behaviorism and I will enforce rewards and punishments to my students in order for them to want to learn. I believe that we all learn or work to achieve our goals/make money/be successful or to steer away from poverty/lack of education/unhappiness. Learning does occur when we are offered repercussions. Children definitely need to be given ultimatums to work harder. This also allows them to learn whether their actions were correct or they have done something wrong.
A server at a restaurant will slack on his side work or genuine personality with a table if he is not making money. A student will slack on his homework or class participation; if he is not reinforced with knowing that he has done a good job, for the work he has done. Making money or helping others motivates us to do a better job in our current careers, just as good grades and high self esteem help children excel in school. The server needs to be told that if he does not shape up, he will be fired. This works the same way with children. Time-outs need to be enforced so that the child knows that if he doesn’t shape up he will go to the principal’s office. This shows that “behavior change is determined by consequences and the consequences must matter to the individual.”
During one of my observations, the teacher told me that her previous principal disapproved of removing stars or check marks given to the children for good behavior or getting an answer correct. She thought it would cause low self esteem and make the children feel badly about themselves. I disagree with this principal. When a teacher removes a star for bad behavior it enables the children to learn that they have done something wrong. If they change their behavior to be quite or listen, they will be rewarded for it. Children need to be given a chance to prove themselves and then be given something in the long run. For example, they can go out after eating lunch because they were outstanding during an assembly. If they were bad during the assembly, they either lose a star or cannot go out during lunch time.
Behaviorism will also help me as teacher, because it will enable me to drill into my students’ heads that drugs/smoking or adolescent sex does not lead towards anything positive. Showing students negative outcomes of behavior provides them with knowledge not to do certain things that will ruin their lives. This also works with showing them popular athletes, doctors and even teachers. They will see how from the positive behavior these successful people have accomplished; they have been reinforced with positive recognition.
Behaviorism overall helps the teacher with her class in many ways. It helps her have smooth classroom management skills, keep her children motivated and have them work hard to achieve their highest potential. It also keeps the class interesting. The students learn how to behave and have enjoyable time learning.
Long Island University, C. W. Post
March 4, 2009
I agree with the methods and theories of Behaviorism and I will enforce rewards and punishments to my students in order for them to want to learn. I believe that we all learn or work to achieve our goals/make money/be successful or to steer away from poverty/lack of education/unhappiness. Learning does occur when we are offered repercussions. Children definitely need to be given ultimatums to work harder. This also allows them to learn whether their actions were correct or they have done something wrong.
A server at a restaurant will slack on his side work or genuine personality with a table if he is not making money. A student will slack on his homework or class participation; if he is not reinforced with knowing that he has done a good job, for the work he has done. Making money or helping others motivates us to do a better job in our current careers, just as good grades and high self esteem help children excel in school. The server needs to be told that if he does not shape up, he will be fired. This works the same way with children. Time-outs need to be enforced so that the child knows that if he doesn’t shape up he will go to the principal’s office. This shows that “behavior change is determined by consequences and the consequences must matter to the individual.”
During one of my observations, the teacher told me that her previous principal disapproved of removing stars or check marks given to the children for good behavior or getting an answer correct. She thought it would cause low self esteem and make the children feel badly about themselves. I disagree with this principal. When a teacher removes a star for bad behavior it enables the children to learn that they have done something wrong. If they change their behavior to be quite or listen, they will be rewarded for it. Children need to be given a chance to prove themselves and then be given something in the long run. For example, they can go out after eating lunch because they were outstanding during an assembly. If they were bad during the assembly, they either lose a star or cannot go out during lunch time.
Behaviorism will also help me as teacher, because it will enable me to drill into my students’ heads that drugs/smoking or adolescent sex does not lead towards anything positive. Showing students negative outcomes of behavior provides them with knowledge not to do certain things that will ruin their lives. This also works with showing them popular athletes, doctors and even teachers. They will see how from the positive behavior these successful people have accomplished; they have been reinforced with positive recognition.
Behaviorism overall helps the teacher with her class in many ways. It helps her have smooth classroom management skills, keep her children motivated and have them work hard to achieve their highest potential. It also keeps the class interesting. The students learn how to behave and have enjoyable time learning.
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