B.F. Skinner: The “Jules Verne”

of Psychology

Abel L. VillarrealAbel L. VillarrealAustin Community CollegeAustin Community College

Teacher Certification ProgramTeacher Certification Program

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea20,000 Leagues Under the SeaJourney to the Center of the EarthJourney to the Center of the Earth

Popularized science-fictionPopularized science-fiction ““Anything one man can imagine, Anything one man can imagine,

other men can make real”other men can make real”

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Walden IIWalden IIBeyond Freedom & DignityBeyond Freedom & Dignity

Popularized Cognitive PsychologyPopularized Cognitive Psychology ““Education is what survives when Education is what survives when

what has been learned has been what has been learned has been forgotten”forgotten”

View of 1950’s educationView of 1950’s education

Rote instructionRote instruction One curriculum fits everyoneOne curriculum fits everyone No rewards for desired behaviorNo rewards for desired behavior Everyone on the same “learning” timetableEveryone on the same “learning” timetable

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Skinner’s View of EducationSkinner’s View of Education

••programmed instructionprogrammed instruction

••self-pacedself-paced

••technology driventechnology driven

••instant feedbackinstant feedback

••positive reinforcement of desired behaviorpositive reinforcement of desired behavior

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Skinner’s Cognition ParadigmSkinner’s Cognition Paradigm

Desired BehaviorDesired Behavior

RepetitionRepetition RewardReward

Evolution of Skinner’s Evolution of Skinner’s “instrumental aids”“instrumental aids”

From this…

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conditioning pidgeons to respond on cue(operant conditioning)

To this…To this…

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Medina County School, Medina Ohio

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Callifornia State University,Palm Desert Campus, San Bernadino, California

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Palmetto Achievement AcademySchool for the Deaf and Blind Spartanburg, outh Carolina

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Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas

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Duxbury Middle School,Duxbury Maryland

Pause and ReflectPause and Reflect

What effect will Skinner’s paradigmWhat effect will Skinner’s paradigm

have on have on YOURYOUR classroom? classroom?