Chap2: Behavioural Learning Theories

[johnarul...@gmail.com]

To what extent are behavioural learning theories widely applied in
classrooms?

[Fran...@gmail.com]

Behavioural learning theories involve Ian Pavlov classical
conditioning and originated by John Watson who believe that psychology
should be concerned with only the behaviour which are observable,
stable and can be measured as opposed to the study of mind and mental
processes that cannot be seen and hence impossible to be dealt with.
Therefore our behaviour is the product of conditioning rather than as
a result of our feelings, thoughts or mental processes. B.F Skinner
introduced the idea of operant conditioning.

The extent of behavioural theories applied in classrooms for learning
purposes in my opinion is either accidental or applied more as an
afterthought rather than deliberate attempts. I may be wrong but most
would apply these theories unknowingly through methods which teachers/
lecturers deemed to be effective in improving or help to improve
students' learning. The methods were developed not so much from
theories but from past experiences and observations for its
effectiveness or from material developed much earlier and handed down
or from peers to peers.

I don't think teachers or lecturers would yell or scold a naughty
student with such theories in mind but rather as a direct
response(with or without forethought) to the action of the naughty
student, in the hope of stopping that behaviour. It is rare that a
teacher/lecturer would therefore actually reward a student for proper
behaviour(as in positive reinforcement) but more often to punish a
student for his/her errant ways(punishment), neither which, as shown
by B.F Skinner's principles of operant conditioning, would have the
desired effect of stopping the errant behaviour. It is rare but
occasionally that a certain teacher/lecturer do actually ignore the
naughty student and effectively put a stop to his/her errant
behaviour. Though this demonstrates in effect negative reinforcement
and extinction I don't think it is done with the teacher/lecturer
knowingly applying the theory but more from the character of the
teacher/lecturer himself/herself and most likely accidental. It would
appear that the behavioural learning theories are applied more readily
the other way round where the student deliberately behave in a
particular manner(stimulus) in order to generate a certain response
from the teacher/lecturer. Students these day are less easily
intimidated by aggressive or fierce teachers/lecturer. In fact the
student may actually relishes such kind of teachers/lecturer as they
are more ready to response/react to their behaviour(stimulus) or more
easily conditioned to react according to certain action that the
student would do. Needless to say these students are applying the
theories of behavioural learning without ever realising it.

However there are still a number of areas where behavioural learning
theories in classroom are successful applied. The practice of instant
feedback for exams or test is one area where behavioural theories are
applied though not extensively as sometimes it is impractical or
impossible to give instant feedback on test results as time is needed
to mark the answers. Lately, the introduction of computerised exams
are able to overcome such problems especially where the answers are
discrete and mathematical and students are able to get feedback on
their results/performance the instant they completed the test.

Other areas are where teachers/lecturers would give words of
encouragement and praises as positive reinforcements to students and
the refrain from making negative comments on students' work or
effort(poor or good effort), questions and answers sessions, after-
exams discussions on where students went wrong and provision of sample
answers. Rewarding students on their performance is another way of
motivation like when the class was promised a paid dinner if all of
them passes their exams or even punished by having extra classes over
the weekend for failing as a form of punishment. The principle of
programmed instructions are even incorporated in almost all text
materials that are given to students and the manner of delivery for
most subjects in a well planned and organised format.