Behaviorism Theory of

Learning
“Teachers must learn how to
teach ... they need only to
be taught more effective
ways of teaching.” -B. F.
Skinner

By: Brittaney
 Behaviorism
• Behaviorism assumes that a learner is
essentially passive, responding to
environmental stimuli.
• Believes that a learner starts out with a clean
slate, and behavior is shaped by positive
and negative reinforcement.
• Reinforcement, positive or negative,
increases the possibility of an
event happening again.
• Punishment, both positive and negative,
decreases the possibility of an event
happening again.
 Behaviorism cont…
• Positive reinforcement is the application
of a stimulus.
• Negative reinforcement is the
withdrawal of a stimulus.
• Behaviorism is a precursor to cognitive
learning.
 Important People in
Behaviorism
• Ivan Pavlov- Did the experiment with the
dogs. Came up with the theory of
classical conditioning.
• B.F. Skinner- Developed the theory of
operant conditioning. Operant Conditioning
is the use of consequences to modify the
occurrence and form of behavior.
• John B. Watson- The “Little Albert”
experiment. He gets credit for
establishing the psychological school of
behaviorism.
 Pavlov’s Dog Experiment
Ivan Pavlov did a famous experiment that
demonstrates the theory of classical
conditioning (or respondent conditioning).
- Every time Pavlov would bring put out the
dogs’ food he would ring a bell.
- After doing this for a certain period of time,
Pavlov would ring the bell without presenting
food. The dogs would salivate just from
the sound of the bell.
Pavlov’s Dog Experiment
cont…
- The connection the
dogs made between
the bell ringing and
the food, caused the
dogs to associate the
two, so they
responded to the bell
even without the
 Important B.F. Skinner
Theories
• Schedules of reinforcement- Continuous,
interval, and ration. These theories are
used often in daily life with everything from
parenting to schooling to work life.
• Operant Conditioning- the use of
consequences to modify the occurrence or
form of behavior. Differs from classical
conditioning in that it deals with voluntary
behavior.
 What teachers do under this
theory
• Give the learner immediate feedback.
• Break down the task into small steps
• Repeat the directions as many times as possible
• Work from the most simple to the most complex
tasks
• Give positive reinforcement
• Skinner believed that positive reinforcement is
more effective in changing behavior then
punishment.
• All of these are to be adjusted to be age
appropriate
 What students do under this
theory
• Respond to reinforcement
• Pace themselves in an assignment to
work from the most basic to the
more complicated concepts
• Ask questions for more clarity in
directions
• Ask for feedback
 Behavioral Theory and
my own Teaching
I think that the behavioral theory can be very useful
in my own teaching.
• I can use reinforcement to encourage students to
do their best work and to encourage
improvement.
• I will try to avoid punishment, unless absolutely
neccesary.
• I will clearly explain my expectations and have
clear, printed out and verbally explained,
directions to assignments.
• I will always be positive and let my students know
that they can do it, and can do it well.
 Credits
• “Integrating Technology and Digital Media in the
Classroom”- Shelly, Cashman, Gunter, and Gunter
• www.learning-theories.com
• www.learningandteaching.info/learning/index.htm
• Wikipedia.org
• http://nobelprize.org/educational_games/medicine/pa
vlov/images/serie2.gif
• http://kentsimmons.uwinnipeg.ca/16cm05/1116/BFSki
nner.bmp
• http://schoolbox.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/class-
raising-hands.jpg