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BEHAVIORISM THEORY:
Behaviorists determine how environmental influences shape particular kinds of behavior in an
individual.
They tend to think that it is irrelevant to try to refer how a child feels or is viewing the world and that observable behavior is worthy of study.
B.F Skinner, 1953 and his colleagues demonstrated that to influence behavior, you need not only to have knowledge of what is rewarding or reinforcing, but also how to systematically schedule these reinforcements according to empirically derived principles.
From the environment, a person receives two types of conditions:
Classical: Classical conditioning requires an outside stimulus that elicits a certain response.
In learning sequence, the initial response is an unconditioned behavior (Pavlov)
Operant conditioning: focuses on emitted response. It differs from classical conditioning in that response must come before stimulus.
The basic principle of operant conditioning is in forced stimulus. Response is always voluntary under the control of the individual.
If anyone response is made and reinforced, it becomes more likely to be exhibited again under the same conditions than any of the unconditioned operant.
From this perspective, a teacher who is aware of this can systematically lead a student to desired performance or successful learning.
For example, after the initial response has been made, the teacher can provide a positive or negative reinforcement, either of which can produce an increased or decreased frequency of response.
Productive behavior such as knowing multiplication, use of trigonometric ratios (SOHCAHTOA) etc. may be encouraged because of positive reward by the teacher.
Disruptive behavior may be exhibited by the students so as to get the teacher’s attention. Students will regard negative attention to be rewarding.
This implies that stimulus is reinforced differently for different individuals.
A Mathematics teacher can use this in;
- Classroom arrangement
- Programmed instructions using teaching machines
- Rote learning especially when emphasizing algorithms in mathematics
- Motivating students to like participating in mathematical activities as a result of reflex response elicited by a stimulus.
The implementation of classical and operant conditioning principles can be summed up in four steps.
i. Classification of the desired behavior.
ii. Determination of the closest approximation to desired behavior that the child is already
exhibiting.
iii. The determination of what is reinforcing to a child.
iv. Making those reinforcements contingent on the child’s behaving in the desired way.
Behaviorists’ theory is expository in nature and provides that learning takes place according to the type of behavior consequences.
It postulates that, favorable behavior consequences among learners should be reinforced and
encouraged by the teacher. That is the repetition of behavior promotes learning.
Unfavorable behavior consequences are punished and discouraged because they interfere with the
learning process.
The teacher considers learners as passive receivers and tabularaza (empty vessel) who should be told what is good and bad for them.
The theory advocates for a teacher-centered learning process where the teacher gives the mathematical problems and solves them for the learners as he/she assumes learners are like empty bottles that require filling.
The teacher is the authority and discipline focused.
The main principles of this theory are:
- Reinforcement:
Only desirable behavior consequences should been encouraged and reinforced
The teacher only praises those who get right answers according to the teacher.
- Chaining:
While teaching mathematical operation begin with addition, subtraction, multiplication short division and then long division
- Shaping:
The mathematical problems given should shape the behavior of the learner.
Titany answered the question on January 5, 2022 at 11:55