1. Behaviorism
BRITTANY I.
JENNIFER S.
BRANDON S.

2. Behaviorism
 “Behaviorism is the prediction and control of human
behavior in which introspection and/or independent
thinking play no essential part of its teaching methods”
(Shelley 258)
 The student is “essentially passive” and acts in response to
stimuli (Learning Theories Knowledgebase
 Behaviorism includes operant and classical conditioning, as
well as positive and negative reinforcement.

3. Ivan Pavlov
 Ivan Pavlov (1849 – 1936) was
a Russian scientist that won the
Nobel Prize in Physiology in
1904.
 Pavlov was most known for his
use of classical conditioning
to train dogs to salivate at the
ring of a bell.
 Classical conditioning: “refers to
the natural reflex that occurs in
response to stimulus” (Shelley 258)

4. B.F. Skinner
 B.F. Skinner (1904 – 1990) was an
American scientist most known for his
use of operant conditioning
 Operant conditioning: “describes learning
that is controlled and results in shaping
behavior through the reinforcement of
stimuli-response patterns” (Shelley 259)
 Begins with a stimulus, ends in a reward, either
positive or negative
 Skinner conducted experiments in
which he rewarded pigeons when they
behaved in a correct way
 He concluded that people “shape their
behavior based on the rewards or
positive reinforcement they receive”
(Shelley 259)

5. Behaviorism and Teachers
 Behaviorism puts the teacher at the forefront of the
learning experience and “implies the dominance of the
teacher” (learningandteaching.info).
 In a behaviorist classroom, the teacher would be
responsible for affecting the behavior of the students,
possibly by implementing classical or operant conditioning.
 Technology has been developed that utilizes operant
conditioning; computer games or apps use positive
reinforcement to encourage student learning

6. Behaviorism and Students
 For students, behaviorism puts
student behavior in the hands of the
instructor.
 Using iPad applications or computer
games encourage student learning
through operant conditioning.
 Other ways of using behaviorism with
students include giving out candy or
extra credit for certain behaviors
 This can also go the opposite way: using
detention or some other sort of
punishment to affect students when they
act out of line

7. Behaviorism and Us
 We feel that there are good things and bad things about
behaviorism.
 The Good:
 Operant conditioning is a great way to influence student behavior,
especially with positive reinforcement.
 The Bad:
 It puts too much emphasis on the teacher and not enough on the
student.
 Too much influence from the teacher could cause conflicts with parents.

8. Sources
 Image of Pavlov: http://faith-happens.com/wp-
content/uploads/2012/10/pavlov-experiment-dog.jpg
 Image of Skinner:
http://www.harvardsquarelibrary.org/stafford/images/bfskinne
r.jpg
 Images of children with iPads:
 http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/05/education/05tablets.html
 http://www.ipadsforeducation.vic.edu.au/userfiles/images/TB_042_20101
213_HP_4444.jpg
 http://www.learningandteaching.info/learning/behaviour.htm
 http://www.learning-theories.com/behaviorism.html
 Teachers Discovering Computers: Integrating Technology in a
Connected World. Shelly|Gunter|Gunter. Pages 258-260