This document provides an introduction to behaviorism by explaining its key concepts and figures. Behaviorism asserts that behavior is shaped by environmental stimuli and reinforced responses. It focuses on observable behaviors rather than internal mental processes. Important behaviorist theorists discussed include B.F. Skinner, who emphasized positive reinforcement and intermittent reinforcement, and Edward Thorndike, who studied learning in animals through trial and error. The document also describes how behaviorism is applied in classrooms, such as breaking skills into units, providing feedback, and using reinforcement to increase positive behaviors.

1. Introduction to Behaviorism
By
Derek Antoniazzi

2. Menu Options
 What is Behaviorism?
 Who are key figures in Behaviorism?
 How it’s used in a classroom?
 How it’s used in my classroom?

3. What is Behaviorism?
 Behavior is caused by…
 Physical Stimuli
 Responses
 Learning Histories
 And Behavioral Reinforcements

4. What is Behaviorism? (cont.)
 Behaviorist is not concerned with…
 How…or why?
 Just concerned with whether answer’s
correct
 Behavior can be reinforced using
 Positive…
 …or Negative feedback
https://www.msu.edu/~purcelll/behaviorism%20theory.htm?pagewanted=all

5. Key Figures in Behaviorism
 B. F. Skinner
 Pleasant experiences for positive
reinforcement
 Continuous reinforcement increases rate of
learning
 Intermittent reinforcement contributes to
longer retention
http://www.sil.org/lingualinks/literacy/implementaliteracyprogram/behavioristtheoryoflearningski.
htm

6. Key Figures in Behaviorism
(cont.)
 Edward Thorndike
 Studied learning in animals
 Would put cat in a box
 A prize of a fish was at the end
 Cat needed to pull lever
 And would repeat the test leading to faster
trials
http://www.simplypsychology.org/edward-thorndike.html

7. How it’s used in Classroom
 How do teachers use it?
 Break down the skills into smaller units
 Check students work and provide feedback
 Focus is directly on content to be taught
 Teacher centered instruction
http://viking.coe.uh.edu/~ichen/ebook/et-it/behavior.htm

8. How it’s used in Classroom
(cont.)
 What would the students do?
 Increase the likelihood of a positive
behavior
 Decrease the frequency of a particular
response
http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php?title=Behaviorism

9. How Theory would apply to
my classroom
 Could give positive reinforcement
 Applaud students after a performance
 Commend students for their work
 Reinforce their abilities to perform
 Informing students’ parents’ of their talents

10. How Theory would apply to
my classroom
 Could give negative reinforcement
 Attending a school production replacing
lowest homework grade
 Performing a Monologue or scene replacing
an eight page final exam