PGT201E

INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY PRACTICES

Behaviorism Learning Theory

Dr Siti Nazleen Abdul Rabu

Behaviorism

Behaviorism
the earliest theory of learning developed.
offers the simplest explanation of learning theories to date
that is Learning is Behaviour Change.
It focuses exclusively on behavior and posits that a stimulus
leads to a response: S R.
S-R by Ivan Pavlov
Positive /Negative Reinforcement
by B.F Skinner

Behaviorism
Behaviourists attempt to maintain a high degree of
objectivity in the way they view human activity, and they
generally reject reference to unmeasurable states, such as
feelings, attitudes, and consciousness.
Human behaviour is above all seen as predictable and
controllable.
Behaviourism thus stems from a strongly objectivist
epistemological position.

Behaviour, not Mind!

CONTEXT OF BEHAVIORISM THEORY

Under behaviorism, the definition of learning was reduced and
simplified to simple conditioning: the stimulus and the
response.
The motto of behaviorism might well be expressed as behavior,
not mind!
Behaviourism is an objectivist approach to teaching.
Behaviorist learning theory focuses on that which is observable:
how people behave and especially how to change or elicit
particular behaviors.

Behaviour, not Mind!

CONTEXT OF BEHAVIORISM THEORY

According to behaviorist theory, what is in the mind is not
accessible for study, and hence irrelevant and should not be
considered in research.
The mind is viewed as a black box that is largely irrelevant, and,
therefore, by extension educational practice based on behaviorist
terms would not take the mind into account.
The emphasis is on environmental stimulus and observed
response.

Behaviour, not Mind!

CONTEXT OF BEHAVIORISM THEORY

Thus a certain stimulus will evoke a particular response.

At its simplest, it may be a purely physiological reflex action,

like the contraction of an iris in the eye when stimulated by bright light.

Mind is a
Black Box

Behaviour, not Mind!

CONTEXT OF BEHAVIORISM THEORY

Learning happen - based on the observable change of behaviour.
It focuses on the repeated patterns of the behaviour until it
happen instantaneously.
Centres on the study of observable and measurable behaviours.
It views the mind as a black box which reacts to observable
and measurable stimulations.
This theory neglects the thinking process that may occur in the
mind.
Contributors in the development of behaviorist theory Pavlov,
Thorndike, Watson and Skinner.

Scholars or Theorist of Behaviorism

Ivan Pavlov (Classical Conditioning)

Pavlov

B. F. Skinner (Operant Conditioning)

Skinner

Edward Thorndike (Law of Effect)

John Broadus Watson ("Little Albert" experiment)

Thorndike
Watson

Behaviorist learning theory emphasizes two major types of conditioning

Scholars or Theorist of Behaviorism

Ivan Pavlov (Classical Conditioning)

His famous dog experiments, held that behavior is

conditioned to become a reflex response to a stimulus.
Pavlovs dog experiments in which behavior becomes a reflex
response to a stimulus.
B. F. Skinner (Operant Conditioning)

Skinners rat experiments, which refer to the reinforcement of a

behavior by a reward or punishment.
Refers to the reinforcement of a behavior by a reward or a
punishment.

What Do You Think

BEHAVIORIST LEARNING PEDAGOGY

Pedagogical approaches associated with behaviorist learning
theory were explored under three categories: reward and
punishment, behavioral instructional design, and taxonomies of
learning.
Behaviorist pedagogy aims to promote and modify observable
behavior in people. Learning is considered a behavior that
demonstrates acquisition of knowledge or skills.
To understand behaviorist learning pedagogy, we look at the
following three techniques and models:
Reward and punishment; Behavioral instructional design;
Taxonomies of learning.

BEHAVIORIST LEARNING PEDAGOGY

Reinforcement & Punishment
Reinforcement :
Students are required to
respond and receive immediate
feedback for an activity; or
getting a correct answer to a
multiple-choice test.
Make sure achievements are
rewarded with reinforcements,
like praises, gifts or good
grades.

BEHAVIORIST LEARNING PEDAGOGY

Reinforcement & Punishment

BEHAVIORIST LEARNING PEDAGOGY

Reinforcement & Punishment

BEHAVIORIST LEARNING PEDAGOGY

Behavioral Instructional Design

Behaviorism was prominent in the origins of instructional

design.
Instructional design is the systematic planning and presenting
of instructional sequences, based on a theory of learning.
Behavioral instructional theory therefore consists of
prescriptions for what stimuli to employ if a particular response
is intended.
The instructional designer can be reasonably certain that with
the right set of instructional stimuli all manner of learning
outcomes can be attained.

BEHAVIORIST LEARNING PEDAGOGY

Behavioral Instructional Design

Behaviorism emphasized the ability to analyze and deconstruct the

elements or steps of learning into instructional design, by breaking
down a task into smaller steps or chunks and by specifying
behavioral objectives.
Learning success was assessed by tests developed to measure
performance in relation to each objective.
Taxonomies or classifications of learning behaviors were therefore
considered to be important, in order to design and test instruction.
Benjamin Blooms 1956 taxonomy of learning (cognitive, affective
and psychomotor domains) is a classic in this field.

BEHAVIORIST LEARNING PEDAGOGY

Taxonomy of Educational Objectives

The taxonomy could help teachers specify curricular objectives and

ensure that the educational plans cover the range of behaviors
required to be taught.
The taxonomy was to comprise three handbooks: Handbook I
addressed the cognitive domain, Handbook II, on the affective domain,
and Handbook III, on the manipulative or motor-skill area.
Blooms cognitive domain - the six categories set out as learning
objectives for students were listed according to level of difficulty, in
that the first must be mastered before the next.

BEHAVIORIST LEARNING PEDAGOGY

Taxonomy of Educational Objectives

BEHAVIORIST LEARNING PEDAGOGY

Taxonomy of Educational Objectives

Are you aware that teachers prepare their course content

objectives based on behavioural objective.
Refer to your course objectives.

BEHAVIORIST LEARNING TECHNOLOGY

Instructional technology has its roots in behaviorism.
Learning technologies that were intended to encourage practice
and reinforcement of specific tasks were developed.

BEHAVIORIST LEARNING TECHNOLOGY

Two major examples of technologies based on behaviorist
learning theory emerged:
Teaching machines and programmed instruction;
Computer-assisted instruction (CAI) or
Computer-assisted learning (CAL)
The rise of education technologies occurred within the
behaviorist school of thought.
Teaching machines, programmed instruction and computerassisted learning (CAI) were invented within this context.

BEHAVIORIST LEARNING TECHNOLOGY

Computer-Assisted Instruction (CAI) or (CAL)
Computer-assisted instruction (CAI) was developed during the
1950s for teaching and training.
CAI is essentially a drill-and-practice approach to learning, and
the control is with the program designer and not the learner
(although small levels of individual customization were
implemented).
It is the earliest example of educational applications of a
computer.
Drill and practice, and electronic page turning, both associated
with CAI, were the earliest forms of educational software.

BEHAVIORIST LEARNING TECHNOLOGY

Examples of Computer-Assisted Instruction (CAI)

Behaviour, not Mind!

THE APPLICATION OF BEHAVIORISM THEORY

Behaviourisms influence is still strong in corporate and

military training, and in some areas of science,
engineering, and medical training.
It can be of particular value for rote learning of facts or
standard procedures such as multiplication tables, for
dealing with children or adults with limited cognitive
ability due to brain disorders, or for compliance with
industrial or business standards or processes that are
invariant and do not require individual judgement.

Behaviour, not Mind!

THE APPLICATION OF BEHAVIORISM THEORY

Behaviourism, with its emphasis on rewards and punishment as
drivers of learning, and on pre-defined and measurable
outcomes, is the basis of popular conceptions of learning among
many parents, politicians, and, it should be noted, computer
scientists interested in automating learning.
It is not surprising then that there has also been a tendency until
recently to see technology, and in particular computer-aided
instruction, as being closely associated with behaviourist
approaches to learning, although computers do not necessarily
have to be used in a behaviourist way.

The End

Behaviorism