Behaviorism and Operant conditioning
Posted October 17, 2008 
Comments(2) |
Comments(2) | I think that behaviorism and operant conditioning are very closely related. Both theories are based on Pavlov’s dogs and the ringing of the bell. Behavior is all around us, it is in everything that we do. We do things to get a response whether it is good or bad. For instance, in the classroom, if we do good work and get bad grades then we continue to do good work. If we can get rewarded for turning work in late we will turn it in late every time. It’s human nature to do things because we like the way it makes us feel or because it has to be done.
I am glad you mentioned this one. Not only do we condition students to not turn in work in late but we also condition some students not to succeed or even try. IEP’s condition students to a false sense of reality. Never fail. Come on. We fail things everyday in life. So…. are we really helping students with learning disablilities by not letting them fail or have bad concequences?
I have noticed that my dogs are conditioned to the sound of my computer shutting down. As soon as they hear it they start jumping up and down and get so excited. They know that when it gets turned off in the evenings that it is time for them to go out and to bed. My poor babies!
I have seen teachers tell students they will get candy if they are “good” that day. Even when they still act like wild things they still get the candy. All this is teaching them is that no matter what they do they will get rewarded.