Learning Process by which experience causes permanent change in
knowledge or behaviour. (Woolfolk, et al 2008: 245) behaviourists
define learning as a relatively permanent change in behaviour as a
result of experience. This change in behaviour is always observable
(Jordan, et al 2008:21) Behaviourism is a theory of learning
focusing on observable behaviours and discounting any mental
activity. Learning is defined simply as the acquisition of new
behaviour. (Pritchard, 2009:6)
Slide 5
Close your eyes and try to create vivid image of the following:
The smell of fresh coffee An embarrassing moment at school The
taste of chocolate The sight of a needle just before a blood test
What did you notice as you formed these images? What were you
feeling as you thought about them?
Slide 6
Ivan Pavlov 1849-1936
Slide 7
Early explanations of learning: Contiguity and classical
conditioning (From Woolfolk, et al 2008:246) Contiguity association
of two events because of repeated pairing Stimulus event that
activates behaviour Response observable reaction to a stimulus
Slide 8
Classical conditioning other key terms Classical conditioning
Association of automatic responses with new stimuli Neutral
stimulus Stimulus not connected to a response Unconditioned
stimulus Stimulus that automatically produces an emotional or
physiological response Unconditioned response Naturally occurring
emotional or physiological response Conditioned stimulus Stimulus
that evokes an emotional or physiological response after
conditioning. Conditioned response Learned response to previously
neutral stimulus. Woolfolk, et al (2008:247)
Slide 9
Food Bell Salivation Unconditioned response Conditioned
response
Slide 10
See my latest major motion picture!
Slide 11
Pavlov in practice (?) Pavlov has shown how he can condition a
dog to drool to the sound of a bell but how can this inform your
practice? In small groups, identify an example of this in a
learning situation how, as teachers can we use the basic Stimulus-
Response Theory? Think of some examples also in everyday
situations
Classical conditioning is the automatic conditioning of
involuntary responses such as salivation and fear. Clearly, not all
human learning is so automatic and unintentional. Most behaviours
are not involuntary responses. People act or operate on their
environment to produce different kinds of consequences. Woolfolk,
et al (2008:249)
Slide 14
B.F. Skinner (1904-1990) Overview Used rats and pigeons for his
experiments Skinner Box showed that animals could be trained to
carry out increasingly complex tasks Introduced positive and
negative reinforcement Positive rewards more effective in
encouraging desired behaviour
Slide 15
The Skinner Box
Slide 16
A B C Consequences AntecedentBehaviour
Slide 17
Reinforcement Reinforcement use of consequences to strengthen
behaviour Consequence Effect Behaviour Reinforcer Strengthened or
repeated behaviour
Slide 18
Punishment Punishment process that weakens or suppresses
behaviour Consequence Effect Behaviour Punishment Weakened or
decreased behaviour
Slide 19
Image: Woolfolk, et al (2008:252)
Slide 20
See this website Note particularly unpleasant shirt
Slide 21
After you execute a turn during a skiing lesson, your
instructor shouts out, "Great job!" At work, you exceed this
month's sales quota so your boss gives you a bonus. For your
teaching observation you are awarded a grade 1 The ski instructor
offering praise, the employer giving a bonus, and the observer
awarding a grade 1 are all examples of positive reinforcers. In
each of these situations, the reinforcement is an additional
stimulus occurring after the behaviour that increases the
likelihood that the behaviour will occur again in the future.
Examples of positive reinforcement
Slide 22
Before going out in the sun, you apply sunscreen to avoid
getting sunburned. You clean up your mess in the kitchen to avoid
getting in a fight with your roommate. You leave the house early to
avoid getting stuck in traffic and being late for class. Sunburn, a
fight with your roommate and being late for work are all negative
outcomes that were avoided by performing a specific behaviour. By
eliminating these undesirable outcomes the preventative behaviours
become more likely to occur again in the future. Examples of
negative reinforcement
Slide 23
Activity In pairs think of at least 3 examples of operant
conditioning in your own teaching Are these examples of positive or
negative reinforcement? Consider their success in the classroom 20
mins
Slide 24
Classical conditioning An association is formed between a
stimulus and an involuntary response Operant conditioning An
association is formed between a stimulus and a voluntary response
To summarise
Slide 25
Later developments in behaviourism Wolfgang Kohler (1925) apes
presented with out-of-reach food appeared to solve problems by
sudden insight rather than trial and error. Tolman (1946) rats
could learn, remember and use facts about a maze. Create cognitive
map to store and access information. Behaviourism dominated
psychology until 1960s. cognitive approaches renew interest in
mental processes.
Slide 26
Ralph Tyler (1949) Click on Ralph for further info
Slide 27
Educational implications of behaviourism Blooms taxonomy
Curriculum planning Models of instruction Learning outcomes
Assessment See Jordan, et al (2008) pp 29-33
Slide 28
Critique of behaviourism? Too simplistic Reducing humans
behaviour to stimulus response Learning without understanding Human
learning involves thinking, reasoning and social factors Scales,
2012: 60
Slide 29
Behaviourism. Not really concerned with mental processes
Cognitivism. Storing, processing, remembering. Cognitive map
Constructivism. Connecting new knowledge to existing. Making
meaning.
Slide 30
References Jordan, A., Carlile, O and Stack, A. (2008)
Approaches to Learning Maidenhead: Open University Press Pritchard,
A. (2009) Ways of Learning (2 nd Ed.)London: Routledge Scales, P.
(2013) Teaching in the Lifelong Learning(2 nd Ed.) Maidenhead: Open
University Press Woolfolk, A., Hughes, M. and Walkup, V. (2008)
Psychology in Education Harlow: Pearson Education LImited