By Xia Wang
EDI 600 Psychological Foundation of Education
EDI 600 Psychological Foundation of Education
School of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
February 12, 2010
Behaviorism still has its place on application and implication to teaching nowadays. In fact, teachers use these behavioral modification instruments in their everyday teaching life. However, when I use these instruments, I don’t come to realize that I’m practicing Skinner’s theory. And I didn’t use them systematically or under some guidance. The reason why I use them comes from my learning experience when I was a student or my observation and learning from other colleagues.
Positive reinforcement is practiced in teaching today far more than before compare to the punishment. Punishment is under its most severe skepticism and criticism in the present, esp., the corporal punishment is totally banned in school by either law or regulations. Instead, positive education, which means more compliments, is advocated strongly in today’s society. Many teachers applied Premack principles, Token economies or contingency contracting to their classroom management and instruction. Moreover, the successful teachers who benefit from these behavioral modification instruments are readily to promote these methods.
In my opinion, Skinner’s Operant condition still has its pedagogical and practical implication in school education. Nevertheless, knowing how to use them wisely and how to avoid its side effect are vital before they come into effect. It’s a predetermined awareness to know how much is appropriate and how much is too much in terms of being conducive to teaching. For example, too much positive reinforcement happened in the early stage of learning could lead to the interest losing for the learner. But according to the reinforcement schedule, more positive reinforcement will be given to the beginning of learning. So how to find a scientific combination between these instruments is still needed to be investigated and explored.
Long Island University, C. W. Post
February 12, 2010
Behaviorism still has its place on application and implication to teaching nowadays. In fact, teachers use these behavioral modification instruments in their everyday teaching life. However, when I use these instruments, I don’t come to realize that I’m practicing Skinner’s theory. And I didn’t use them systematically or under some guidance. The reason why I use them comes from my learning experience when I was a student or my observation and learning from other colleagues.
Positive reinforcement is practiced in teaching today far more than before compare to the punishment. Punishment is under its most severe skepticism and criticism in the present, esp., the corporal punishment is totally banned in school by either law or regulations. Instead, positive education, which means more compliments, is advocated strongly in today’s society. Many teachers applied Premack principles, Token economies or contingency contracting to their classroom management and instruction. Moreover, the successful teachers who benefit from these behavioral modification instruments are readily to promote these methods.
In my opinion, Skinner’s Operant condition still has its pedagogical and practical implication in school education. Nevertheless, knowing how to use them wisely and how to avoid its side effect are vital before they come into effect. It’s a predetermined awareness to know how much is appropriate and how much is too much in terms of being conducive to teaching. For example, too much positive reinforcement happened in the early stage of learning could lead to the interest losing for the learner. But according to the reinforcement schedule, more positive reinforcement will be given to the beginning of learning. So how to find a scientific combination between these instruments is still needed to be investigated and explored.
0 comments:
Post a Comment