Behaviourism focuses on external events as the cause of changes in observable behaviours. Students learn behaviours that bring positive feelings and approval from admired people, and change behaviours to satisfy desires they have learned to value. When a teacher constantly reinforces an action, students engage in a routine that enables smooth lessons. Desirable behaviours can be strengthened and undesirable behaviours can be unlearned through reinforcement or punishment. Behaviourist methods like contracts, reinforcement, extinction, and punishment can be used to promote desired classroom behaviours.

1. According to Skinner, ‘things we call pleasant have an energising effect on our behaviour’ so humans and animals repeat pleasurable acts and avoid unpleasant onesDiscuss the practical implications of behaviourism on learning and classroom managementAlia, Shafinaz, ST, Hui Ying, HveyJci

2. BehaviourismExplanations of learning that focus on external events as the cause of changes in observable behaviours.

3. Behavioral change occursStudents work for things that bring them positive feelings and approval from people they admire. They change behaviors to satisfy the desires they have learned to valueStart to develop habitual behaviors from those that are repeated often (Parkay & Hass, 2000)

4. Developing a routineWhen a teacher reinforces an action constantly, the students are engaged in a routine.Thus, it enables the teacher to have a smooth flow in conducting her lessons.

5. Behaviours can be learned, unlearned, relearnedKnowing this point, teachers are more aware that desirable behaviour can be strengthen and undesirable behaviour can be unlearned Thus, the teachers are wiser in deciding whether to reinforce or impose a suitable punishment.

6. Engaging students in class Increase in student participation during lessons as there is a positive and nurturing environment of them.Students are more motivated to learn in a lesson.

7. EDUCATIONAL IMPLICATIONAmong the methods used by behaviorists to promote desired behavior include Contracts

8. Punishment

9. Reinforcement

10. ExtinctionContractsA set of simple rules that are imposed in order to curb undesired behavior and promote targeted behavior.

11. E.g. Allen is not doing his homework. Hence the teacher works closely with parents, waits until he finishes his homework before he goes back and orders Allen to sit at the front row in class. ReinforcementThere are two types of consequences : Positive and negative

12. Positive reinforcement is given to encourage desired behaviour, whereas negative reinforcement deals with removing an action that students might find unpleasant. ExtinctionIs aimed to decrease the probability of a particular behaviour.