Behaviorism is a learning theory based on the idea that behavior is shaped through consequences like rewards and punishments, and focuses on observable behaviors and actions rather than internal mental states; key contributors to behaviorism include Ivan Pavlov, B.F. Skinner, and Albert Bandura; according to behaviorism, teachers can use rewards and punishments to encourage positive behaviors in students and discourage negative behaviors.

1. LEARNING THEORY- BEHAVIORISM
By: Kristen A.

2. MENU
What?
Who?
How?
My Classroom?
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3. WHAT IS BEHAVIORISM?
• Learner starts with a clean slate
• Behavior develops through +/- rewards
•Operates on principle of “stimulus-response”
o Positive behavior- applying a stimulus
o Negative behavior- withdrawing a stimulus
•“Learning” is changing your behavior
http://www.learning-theories.com/behaviorism.html

4. WHAT IS BEHAVIORISM?
• Experimentation mostly takes place with animals
• In education, teacher has dominance
• Learners success is based on actions
• Can be used for classroom management
o Prevent or solve discipline problems
http://www.learningandteaching.info/learning/behaviour.htm
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5. WHO DEVELOPED BEHAVIORISM?
Ivan Pavlov
• Famous Russian psychologist and physiologist
•Biggest contribution was Classical Conditioning
o Theory suggesting how behavior is learned
• Behavioral experiments with dogs
• Taught dogs to salivate
o By ringing a bell and providing food
o Then salivate only by hearing the bell
• Received a Nobel Prize for his contribution to Science
http://www.psyonline.nl/hof/en-pavlov.htm

6. WHO DEVELOPED BEHAVIORISM?
Albert Bandura
• Social Cognitive Theory
o Motivational factors that contribute to behavior
• Observational Modeling
o People observe others behaviors
o Then imitate what they observe
• Later joined the Cognitivist
o Way people think affects their behavior
Textbook: Integrating Technology In a Connected
World

7. WHO DEVELOPED BEHAVIORISM?
B.F. Skinner
• American Behaviorist
• Behavioral/Operant Conditioning
o Shapes behavior through reinforcement of stimulus-response
patterns
• Conducted experiments with pigeons
o Taught them how to dance, bowl
o Stimulus pattern occurred, then pigeon was rewarded
•Believed human behavior could work the same way
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B._F._Skinner
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8. HOW WOULD TEACHERS USE BEHAVIORISM IN
THE CLASSROOM?
• Teachers would reward students for positive behavior
o Praise, extra recess, or gold star
o Technology- give computer time
• Have consequences for negative behavior
o Take away time at recess, take away star
o Technology- take away computer time
• Can also use to encourage learning
o Play “game” where if they answer right, they obtain a
point
o If they answer wrong they don’t get a point
o This will encourage them to study, to get more points

9. HOW WOULD STUDENTS USE BEHAVIORISM IN
THE CLASSROOM?
• Students don’t have much control
o teacher has dominance
•They obtain +/- rewards based on their behavior
• Through this they learn proper behavior
• Students can also change students behavior
o They can threaten to tell the teacher, if a student is
being bad
o Since, the student won’t want to be in trouble, the
action will stop.
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10. WOULD I USE BEHAVIORISM IN MY
CLASSROOM?
• I would definitely use behaviorism
• When doing service learning, my teacher used
behaviorism
o I saw the effectiveness, it was unbelievable!
o They immediately stopped bad behavior
o Encouraged good behavior
• She used:
o Positive- warm fuzzies, fake money
o Negative- took out a warm fuzzy, took away money,
made students sit out at recess

11. WOULD I USE BEHAVIORISM IN MY
CLASSROOM?
• I think it’s a great way to keep order in the classroom
• It’s also effective for elementary all the way to high school
•I would use behaviorism to help motivate students
o to do right thing
o and to pay attention, focus
• I will use things such as:
o extra/less recess
o add/take away fuzzy or star
o add/subtract computer time
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12. Picture:
Flickr.com
Music:
Heartland, freeplaymusic.com