Behaviorism is a psychological approach that views learning as conditioned responses to stimuli and environments. Behaviorists in education advocate a system of rewards and targets to shape student behavior. Key theorists include Ivan Pavlov who demonstrated classical conditioning in dogs, Edward Thorndike who established the law of effect that behaviors followed by rewards become stronger, John Watson who believed behavior results from specific stimuli and responses, and B.F. Skinner who developed operant conditioning where behaviors are reinforced through rewards or punishments. Behaviorism focuses on observable behaviors and seeks to modify them through stimuli in the learning environment.

1. Behaviorism and Education

2. Behaviorism
• Behaviorism is an approach to psychology based on
the belief that all human actions and responses can
be explained in terms of reflexes conditioned by
reward and punishment.
• Behaviorists look at learning as an aspect
of conditioning and will advocate a system of rewards
and targets in education.

3. The learning Theorists

4. Ivan Pavlov (1849-1936)
• Pavlov did a famous experiment that
demonstrate the theory of classical
conditioning
• He is known for using dogs for behavioral
tests. He used a bell to teach the dogs to
know that food was being given and it
resulted in the dogs salivating while
waiting for the food. This became known
as classical conditioning.

5. Edvard Thorndike (1874-1949)
• Thorndike is known for the theory he called
the law of effect , which emerged from his
research on how cats learn to escape from
puzzle boxes. According to the law of
effect, responses that are immediately
followed by a satisfactory outcome become
more strongly associated with the situation
and are therefore more likely to occur again
in the future . In his view, behaviors and
responses that are rewarded will become
strengthened and habitual.

6. John B. Watson(1878-1958)
Watson believed that human behavior
resulted from specific stimuli that
elicited certain responses. Watson's
basic premise was that conclusions
about human development should be
based on observation of overt behavior
rather than speculation about
subconscious motives or latent cognitive
processes.

7. B.F Skinner (1904-1990)
• Skinner believed that the best way
to understand behavior is to look at
the causes of an action and its
consequences. He called this
approach operant conditioning.
Operant conditioning is a method
of learning that occurs through
rewards and punishments for
behavior.

8. Examples of operant conditioning
• When a person makes something that we
approve, he or she must be rewarded
• When a person makes something that we do
not approve, he or she must be punished
• Memory as a key to success

9. The learning goals
• learning task – based learning
• improving student’s memory
• throwing out bad behaviour

10. The role of a trainer
• giving students positive reinforcement
• providing stimulus materials
• Dividing the task into small steps
• Working from the most simple to the most
complex assignments

11. The role of a student
• Responding to the reinforcement
• Asking question for more clarity to the
directions
• Asking for feedback
• Practising to remove old habits

12. Advantages and disadvantages
• Advantages
- Excellent scores
- By learning programmed- instructions,
learnes may be good athletics or have some
other aptitudes
• Disadvantages
- requires only low- level thinking

13. Sources
• http://psychology.about.com/od/profilesmz/p
/edward-thorndike.htm
• http://abanksto.myweb.uga.edu/portfolio/ba
nkston_learning.pdf
• http://educ6040fall10.wikispaces.com/Behavi
orism
• http://www.edudemic.com/a-simple-guide-
to-4-complex-learning-theories/