Chapter 8, Reinforcing Effort, outlines the importance of effort to achieve. Basically, students track their effort and acheivement using spreadsheet software, rubrics, and surveys to track their progress. "The instructional strategy of reinforcing effort enhances students' understanding of the relationship between effort and achievement by addressing their attitudes and beliefs about learning," (Hubbell, Kuhn, Malenosko, Pitler, 2007). This behaviorist approach plays a big role in learning. I think by using this technological approach, it is more meaningful for the students instead of lecturing on putting forth effort to acheive. Although this chapter does not outline students learning basic skills, it demonstrates the abilty for students to understand basic concepts. Can students learn and understand this concept with out the use of technology? Yes. But using data collection seems to be more meaningful and clear when it comes to identifying the correlation between their effort and grades or achievement. The students have real information where they can analyze to see why they are achieving on a certain level. This approach alone will not increase everyones achievement level ,but it gives them an idea on where they are with their effort and achievement.
Chapter 10 focuses on homework and practice. Homework is basically an extension of what students learn in the classroom. "Homework and practice give students a chance to review and apply what they have learned," (Hubbell, Kohn, Malenoski, Pitler, 2007).
The purpose of homework is for drill and practice. Most lkills that are learned in school, or even life must be practiced. For example, for a basketball team to play a game, they must have practice basic skills of the game. To learn and master those skills, they must use drills during practice. Homework assignments must not be assigned in vain. It must pertain to what is being taught and has a purpose. Homework should also be meaningful so that the student can take it serious. When it's meaningful, students will be more engaged to mastery the skill at hand.
Chapter 10 also outlines different websites and software that can assist with homework. These sites are great for tutoring and remediation. For students who do not have access to computers at home, it's maybe helpful to give those students time through the school day to use the computer.
Overall, behaviorism plays a big role in learning. It assist with skill development and higher order concepts. Although this shouldn't be the only approach used in the classroom, it does shows that skill developmet is increased when using a behaviorist approach.
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I liked your analogy to the basketball team practicing. "The purpose of homework is for drill and practice". Perhaps, homework is more than that though, I read a study years ago that followed the mental well being of students in two identical classrooms. Everything was the same except one group was assigned homework every night for 12 years and the other group was not. The students would be asked questions like how many friends do you have, how happy are you on a scale of 1 to 10. The study found that the group that had homework everynight was much more content with themselves, much more happier. I wonder how the behaviorlist theory fits into that study? Wat positive reinforecement was coming from doing homework?
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with belief that students must have homework that pertains to what is being taught and has purpose. It should correlate with what is being covered or what will be covered in order to supplement the content with outside reference.
ReplyDeleteMr.Manning that is a very interesting study that you mentioned. Some would think that students who had more free time away from school would have the opportunity to discover what lies within themselves and to make more friends.
Sidenote, I was really cheering for the Hawks to beat the Cavs but the Cavs look really tough.
I agree with your statement of making sure homework assignments are not given out in vain. I think many times teachers give homework to students because it has always been traditional to do so and in reality it is just drill and practice which turns into busy work for the students to do and for the teacher to grade. I don't know about your school, but I think many students get too much help on their homework while at home because their parents are doing it for them. How can we truly assess student learning if we don't know who is truly doing the assignment or how much or what type of help they are getting?
ReplyDeleteHi, Savannah
ReplyDeleteNice Blog and interesting post, we are all in the same page about the relationship between behaviorism theory and learning strategies, at the beginning we though that were not connected but after our research we all are agree that are definitely connected.
I would like to take this opportunity to share my thoughts with you and with the world regarding this topic. The instructional strategies described in the resources that we explore correlate with the principles of behaviorist learning theories. The following statements showed the similarities between instructional strategies and behaviorism theory.
Correlating Reinforcing Effort Strategies (RES) and Behaviorism Learning Theory. (BLT)
I find out that: RES Enhance student's understanding of relationship between effort and achievement by addressing attitude and beliefs about learning, based on taking notes, paying attention, participating, studying etc. BLT: Enhance student's understanding of relationship between active learner versus passive learner based on repetition, generalization, discrimination, frequent practice etc. RES: reinforcement is a powerful tool. BLT: reinforcement is a powerful tool. RES: key is believe in effort and keep track of it to acquire skill learning. BLT: Key is Believe in effort with frequent practice to acquire learning skills. RES: Important tool is integrating technology on activities. BLT: Important tool is also integrating technology on activities.
Correlating Homework and Practice (HAP) and Behaviorism Learning Theory. (BLT).
The following statements shown that learning strategies and behaviorism theory are connect; get your own thought. HAP: Reinforce students understanding of the content to gain proficiency with their skills by repetition. BLT: Reinforce student's understanding of the content with frequent practices to gain strengthened or skills. HAP: Amount of homework should be differentiating according to grade level. BLT: Amount of homework should be fair among grade levels. HAP: Involves observable behavior as who did homework and who did not. BLT: Uses observable behaviors rather than though. HAP: Establish a homework policy. BLT: States that activity should be programmed and focused on objective. HAP: Homework should be clear and follow up with feed back. BLT: Help when activities are clear and when the active learner has feed back. HAP: Focused on learning styles uses technology to differentiate instructions and have an engage learning environment. BLT: Focused in having active learners uses technology in the classroom to have students engage.
Juan Delgado
I could really relate to your comparison between basketball practice and homework. Often time teachers assign homework to simply occupy time in after school. It is sometimes meaningless and does not support the topic of study. In a basketball practice, the drills and activities must be specific to the skill that is being taught. It would not make sense for a coach to practice for an two hours on defensive strategies when his or her team excels in that area. Defensive strategies can be incorporated with other drills while focusing on less proficient skills. The same can be true with homework. Great ideas and thoughts!!!
ReplyDelete