Transcript File

Behavioral Learning Theory
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All species of animals learn in similar (equal
ways with the same guiding principles
To understand learning processes, focus on
stimulus and responses
Internal process should be excluded from the
study of learning.
Learning is evidenced by a behavior change
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Organisms are blank slates at birth
Learning is a result of environmental events
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Classical conditioning: addresses learning of
involuntary responses. For example when the
sound of a bell alone stimulates saliva flow in
dogs.
Operant conditioning: addresses learning of
voluntary responses.
Classical
conditioning
Operant
conditioning
Two stimuli, UCS and
CS, are paired
A response (R) is
followed by a reinforcing
stimulus (S)
Voluntary behavior:
emitted by an organism
Involuntary behavior :
elicited by a stimulus
CS
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CR
R
OR: S-R-S
S
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With a partner, list two examples of operant
conditioning that you have used or that you
see regularly in your classroom or school.
Try to think of a “behavioral” example and an
“instructional or academic” example.
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Behavior is sandwiched between
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Antecedants (a stimulus that comes before the
behavior)
Consequences (a stimulus that comes after a
behavior)
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Reinforcement
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Punishment
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Positive reinforcer: “Rewards” or something
desireable is received after a behavior occurs
Negative reinforcer: “Escapes” or something
undesirable is avoided after a behavior occurs
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Presentation punishment: An undesirable
stimulus is received after a behavior occurs
Removal punishment: A desireable is lost or
removed after a behavior occurs
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With a partner, list consequences (reinforcers
and punishers) that you OR your school uses
on a regular basis to produce the behavior you
desire in your students.
Which ones are effective? Why or why not?
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A prompt of cue that comes before a behavior
that results in the correct behavior being
elicited.
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Alone, answer the following questions:
What antecedents do you use on a daily basis to
get the behavior you wish from your students?
Are the antecedents effective?
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the teacher MUST be active in getting the
behavior they wish from their students.
if the teacher is not actively involved, they will
not regularly see the behavior they wish or be
certain the behavior was learned.
if a student does not learn (demonstrate the
behavior) then the teacher did not teach it.
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Teaching that is behaviorist in nature is often
referred to as
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Direct teaching
Explicit teaching
Expository teaching
Teacher-led instruction
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What areas of Bloom’s Taxonomy might
behaviorism address?
Knowledge, Comprehension,
Application, Analysis, Synthesis, or
Evaluation?
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Orientation: overview, explains why, etc.
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Presentation: explain how to, steps,
demonstrate how to.
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Presented in very small steps with mastery of each
step the goal
Numerous examples with teacher demonstrating
correct responses
When difficulty is encountered, additional
explanations and examples given.
Constant evaluation of ALL students
understanding.
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Practice phase
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Structured practice: whole class led through each step of
the problem with teacher leading and checking for
everyone’s understanding.
Guided practice: students work on a few examples alone
at their desks. Teacher circulates and monitors, providing
corrective feedback and reinforcement
Independent practice: students given a few examples just
like what had been learned to practice alone. Feedback is
not necessarily immediate (i.e. next day).
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From a behavioral perspective, students should only
practice what they already know how to do.
Provide short but intense practice sessions (no more
than 30-40 minutes for middle/high school)
Monitor carefully and provide corrective feedback
and reinforcement
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Incorrect responses which are not corrected become part
of the learner’s behavior and impede progress toward
subsequent learning
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Do not engage students in independent
practice until have 85% success in guided
practice
Space structured practice close together with
guided and independent sessions gradually
further and further apart.
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In small groups, describe a lesson in which you
have used the behaviorist approach (just one
lesson for the entire group). What do you
know now that would have made the lesson
better and improved the likelihood that
students would have learned better. How
would you change that lesson?