Download Behaviorist Learning Theories

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Behaviourism
MLS7123
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Neo Mai
Background Information
n  Learning
theories allow teachers to better understand
the process of learning
n  Together
with the use of technology, learn theories
have made a significant impact in the classroom.
n  There
are many learning paradigms:
n  Behaviorism
n  Cognitivism
n  Constructivism
+ Representations of the Learning
Process
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Behaviorism
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Cognitivism
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Stimulus-Response
Reinforced Behavior
Antecedent Behavior Consequence
Sequenced knowledge and skills presented in logical limited steps
Cognitivist Learning Perspective
Information Processing
Schema
Mental Models
Constructivism
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n 
Inquiry-based
Discovery learning
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Learning
n 
Any relatively permanent change in behavior as a result of
practice or experience. Changes due to growth or maturation are
not learning.
What does this mean?
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Defining Learning
Meaning:
(1) Learning should endure time
(2) Learning involves developing new actions or modifying
existing ones
(3) We learn through practice
(4) We learn through experiences.
This view was very popular in the early part of the 20th
century.
Well-known behaviourist theorists:
Ivan Pavlov, E. Thorndike and B.F. Skinner.
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Defining Learning
Behavourist view:
n  Behavourist
are people who attempt to understand and
describe learning by observing a person's behaviour.
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They look at the stimulus-reponse relationship.
They focus on:
(i) Observable behaviour (responses)
(ii) Environmental events (stimuli) that precede and follow
those responses.
"Action speaks louder than words".
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Defining Learning
Behavourist view:
For example:
n  A
teacher watches a boy's footwork (boy's responses)
while practicing football and gives the boy a praise (a
stimulus) when the boy makes the right moves.
n  A
response that is followed by a desired stimulus
(reinforcement) is more likely to occur again.
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n 
Behaviorism
The theory originates from the works of Ivan Pavlov’s, classical
conditioning, and B. F. Skinner’s, operant conditioning.
n  Classical
Conditioning is when an unconditioned stimulus and
response is manipulated with a conditioned stimulus to create a
conditioned response.
n  Operant
Conditioning is a controlled response with a reward/
punishment system according to the behavior.
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The learner needs reinforcements to keep interest.
n  Stimuli are effective in controlling behavior.
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As a result, the behaviors can be measured to record learning success.
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Key Principles: Behaviorism
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Learning happens when a correct response is
demonstrated following the presentation of a specific
environmental stimulus
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Emphasis is on observable and measurable behaviors
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What can you teach a dog, a cat,
and rat?
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CLASSICAL CONDITIONING
n 
People (and animals) acquire certain behaviors through classical
conditioning
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Learning process in which associations are made between an
unconditioned stimulus and a neutral stimulus.
+ STIMULI
Something that elicits a response.
n NEUTRAL
n 
STIMULUS:
Initially does not elicit a response.
n UNCONDITIONED
n  elicits
a predictable response w/o training.
n UNCONDITIONED
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STIMULUS (UCS):
RESPONSE (UCR):
automatic or natural reaction to a stimulus w/o
training
Classical Conditioning - Ivan Pavlov
Pavlov set out to discover how learning
occurred (empirical)
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INVOLVES LEARNING WHAT EVENTS IN
ENVIRONMENT “GO TOGETHER”
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IS LEARNING OF “ASSOCIATIONS”
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LEARNED BY HAVING EVENTS PAIRED WITH
ONE ANOTHER
(1849-1936)
Classical Conditioning - Ivan Pavlov
n 
Pavlov’s Dogs Experiment
(US) Unconditioned Stimulus food
(UR) Unconditioned Response saliva
(NS) Neutral Stimulus bell
(CS) Conditioned Stimulus bell
(CR) Conditioned Response saliva to bell
Watch classical conditioning here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=hhqumfpxuzI
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John B. Watson
1878 - 1958
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John B. Watson
Watson changed the focus of psychology from introspection, to
environmentalism.
The principles of learning would account for the largest share of
behavioral development and are exercised almost exclusively
through environmental learning opportunities provided for children.
(reflected in cultural diversity & learning studies)
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John B. Watson
He believed that environmental shaping of
behavior began prenatally, and focused his
studies on infants and children.
He demonstrated the conditioned response in
the case of “Little Albert”(Watson, 1925), who
was exposed to an alarming noise and a rat at
the same time, and developed not only a fear of
rats, but transferred the fear to all furry objects.
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E.L. Thorndike
1874 - 1949
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E.L. Thorndike
First scientific theory of learning- Theory of
Connectionism
Comprehensive analogy of human
learning- Three volume work, Educational
Psychology ( 1913a, 1913b, 1914 )
Initial work with animal learning in
laboratory setting- cat in box experiment”
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Thorndike’s Theory of
Connectionism
Law of Effect
If Situation + Response is followed by a positive
consequence then the connection between the
Situation + Response is strengthened.
If Situation + Response is followed by a negative
consequence then the connection between the
Situation + Response is weakened.
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B.F. Skinner
1904 – 1990
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRS80DVvrg&list=PLXfgHteUJ3qrgpTS1qXOwZzBP5VMDmPl1
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Inventions
Operant conditioning chamber or “Skinner Boxes”
- rats would press on a bar to receive a food (positive
reinforcement), or could be set up to give an electric shock
(negative reinforcement).
- pigeons would peck to receive food if a light was on, but not
receive food when a light was off.
Extinction of the operant behavior occurs when you stop giving the
rat a food pellet as a reward for pushing the pedal.
Cumulative recorder –records the rate of response of the animal in
the operant conditioning chamber
Air Crib – a crib that maintained constant temperature and humidity,
easy to clean.
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Operant Conditioning Chambers
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Shaping
Shaping can be used to help an animal to behave
in a manner that it would never do in its ordinary
daily patterns.
Shaping occurs when a reward is given if the
animal does a behavior that is even slightly close
to the desired behavior. Then, as the animal
continues to exhibit the behavior that closer and
closer resembles the desired action, rewards are
given. Eventually, the desired behavior will exist.
(ie. Pigeons that bowl or play ping pong.)
Cognitivism
n  Information
Processing looks at how information is retrieved and
stored.
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This theory focuses on how to store and retrieve information.
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Learning is attained through rehearsal and consistent use of the
information.
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Retention strategies such as breaking down information and
comparing the information to long term storage are great techniques.
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Key Principles: Cognitivism
n  Learning
is a change of knowledge state
n  Knowledge
acquisition is described as a mental
activity that entails internal coding and structuring by
the learner.
n  Learner
is viewed as an active participant in the
learning process
n  Emphasis
is on the building blocks of knowledge (e.g.
identifyng prerequisite relationships of content)
n  Emphasis
on structuring, organising and sequencing
information to facilitate optimal processing
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Constructivism
n 
Constructivism views learning as a process in which
the learner constructs knowledge based on their
past experiences.
n 
The teacher only acts as a facilitator who encourages
students to explore within a given framework
n 
Learners may collaborate with others to organize
their ideas and learn from each other to construct
their own knowledge.
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Key Principles: Constructivism
n  Learners
build personal interpretation of the world
based on experiences and interactions
n  Knowledge
is embedded in the context in which it
is used (authentic tasks in meaningful realistic
settings)
n  Create
novel and situation-specific understandings
by "assembling" knowledge from diverse sources
appropriate to the problem at hand (flexible use of
knowledge)
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Putting It All Together
Learning Theory
Behaviorism
Cognitivism
Constructivism
Learning Process
Technology Support
Through positive/
Educational software
negative reinforcement
can be used to
and punishment
measure the students
assessment
Rehearsing
Flashcards and
information and then
memory games can
storing it for long term help retain information
use
taught in a lesson
Constructing ones own
Group PowerPoint
knowledge through
projects allow students
past experiences and
to work together and
group collaboration
combine their
knowledge to learn