Behaviorism and Technology...Can They Work Together in the Classroom?

            Two main elements of the behaviorist theory are reinforcement and punishment.   The basic principle is to reinforce preferred behaviors and to punish or deter unwanted behaviors.  This theory is most closely associated with classroom routines and student behavior.  However, if used appropriately, there are ways where behaviorism can be a useful tool with instructional strategies including the use of technology.

            One instructional strategy that lends itself to the behaviorist theory is reinforcing effort and providing recognition.  The name of the strategy contains the element of reinforcement.  Students need to learn of the connection between effort and achievement.  To assist them in this, teachers can create a spreadsheet on the computer where the students can track their effort by observing their attitude, commitment, and pride, as well as their quiz scores, while learning a certain skill.  After a few weeks of tracking, the students can use the same program to graph their effort against their scores and see if there is a relationship between effort and achievement.  This process shows that effort is reinforced because the students should see the more effort, the better their achievement level.  Recognition in the form of praise can be a tricky practice.  It is better to recognize a student’s work and effort.  Recognition of a student can also be accomplished with the use of technology.  Badges can be created on Web20Badges.com, or a similar site to print out and present to student or they can be attached on blogs.  I think of these as a more specific version of the proverbial gold star.  Another form of recognition is posting student work on the “refrigerator” of the World Wide Web.  Students take a sense of pride when their work is recognized and will make more effort to repeat the behavior.

            Another instructional strategy that lends itself to behaviorism, especially with the use of technology, is assigning homework and providing practice.  Forgetting all of the controversy over homework, some practice and repetition is necessary.  There are many ways that technology can be used in the homework process.  The flipped classroom is a great example.  This is where the student has to listen to a podcast or watch a video at home before class so they can jump right into activities in school.  This process lends itself to the behaviorist theory because if students don’t listen to the podcast, they may have absolutely no clue what to do in class.  Those that do listen have a better chance of succeeding and will want to repeat that behavior.  Another use of technology is tutorials.  Students are given a small amount of information and asked questions.  If they are correct, the behavior is reinforced with praise or some type of “yippee” graphic that they want to see again.  If they are incorrect, the student is “punished” or re-taught and given the chance to try again.  Tutorials are heavily behaviorist based.

            Even though many think there is not room for behaviorism in the classroom, technology is giving us tools to consider using a little bit of the behaviorist theory.

Resources:

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2011). Program four: Behaviorist learning theory [Video webcast]. Bridging learning theory, instruction and technology. Retrieved from http://laureate.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=5700267&CPURL=laureate.ecollege.com&Survey=1&47=2594577&ClientNodeID=984650&coursenav=0&bhcp=1

Pitler, H., Hubbell, E. R., & Kuhn, M. (2012). Using technology with classroom instruction that

 works (2^nd ed.). Alexandria, VA: ASCD.

Using Technology with Classroom Instruction That Works