The section below is still Under development

The pressure on schools and college to improve on the quality of teaching and learning from all stake holders cannot be over emphasized. With OFSTED the scary watch dog, armed with the claws and teeth of a tiger ready to devour any school that does not concord with the expected standards (checklist) that is supposedly meant to be the bible to achieving quality teaching and learning. 

Introduction

This document is aimed mainly to support maths teachers in maximizing the learning experiences of students they teach. All other teachers could adapt this to suit their subjects.

The key objective

   a. Help maximize students learning and outcomes without stressing them with countless exam practices

   b. Minimize teacher’s workload saving the teacher time to focus on teaching and to have a normal life outside work.

What is learning and when is learning said to have taken place?

I belief a missing link in education in England is the fact that stake holders, including teachers have no idea of what learning is, have forgot what it is or simply ignore it. Whichever it is, there is a need for a reminder.

My favourite definition of learning is:

      Learning is a permanent change in behaviour as a results of an experience.

That is

1. There is a need for an experience

2. Learning happens if the change resulting from the experience is permanent

The idea that learning is a relatively permanent change in behavior as a result of experience is often associated with behaviorist theories of learning, particularly those of B.F. Skinner and John Watson. However, this exact phrasing is not directly attributed to a single individual but rather represents a general concept from behaviorism, a school of psychology that emphasizes the role of experience and environmental factors in shaping behavior.

• B.F. Skinner, one of the most prominent behaviorists, emphasized that learning occurs through operant conditioning, where behavior changes as a result of consequences (reinforcements or punishments).

• John B. Watson, known as the founder of behaviorism, focused on observable behavior and also believed that behavior could be shaped through experience.

The phrase is commonly used in textbooks and educational materials that draw on behaviorist principles. Would you like to dive deeper into these theories or explore other perspectives on learning?

You said:

yes

ChatGPT said:

ChatGPT

Let's dive deeper into the behaviorist perspective on learning and explore how the idea of learning as a permanent change in behavior has been developed and interpreted.

1. Behaviorism and Learning

Behaviorism focuses on the idea that all behaviors are acquired through interactions with the environment, emphasizing observable behaviors over internal mental states. The central idea is that learning is a result of conditioning and environmental stimuli.

a. Classical Conditioning (Pavlov)

Classical conditioning, pioneered by Ivan Pavlov, is one of the earliest theories in behaviorism. Pavlov discovered that dogs could learn to associate a previously neutral stimulus (like a bell) with food, leading them to salivate at the sound of the bell alone. This learning involved a change in behavior (salivation) based on repeated experiences (hearing the bell with food).

• Key Concept: Learning occurs when a neutral stimulus becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus, leading to a conditioned response.

b. Operant Conditioning (Skinner)

B.F. Skinner expanded on behaviorist ideas by introducing operant conditioning, where behavior is shaped by consequences. Skinner demonstrated that positive reinforcement (reward) increases the likelihood of a behavior, while punishment decreases it. For instance, rewarding a student for good work increases the likelihood that they will continue to study.

• Key Concept: Learning involves a change in behavior due to reinforcement or punishment following an action.

• Example: A child learns to clean their room regularly after being praised for doing so.

2. Learning as Permanent Change

The behaviorist view emphasizes that learning is relatively permanent because once a behavior is learned (through conditioning), it can be observed over time. The "permanence" refers to the fact that learned behaviors tend to persist unless new experiences or conditioning alter them.

For example:

• A child who learns to fear dogs after a traumatic encounter may continue to exhibit fear in the presence of dogs for a long time, demonstrating a lasting change in behavior due to experience.

3. Key Theorists in Behaviorism

• John B. Watson: Often regarded as the father of behaviorism, Watson emphasized the role of environment in shaping behavior. He believed that behavior could be controlled and predicted based on stimuli and responses.

• B.F. Skinner: Skinner's work on operant conditioning built on Watson's ideas, showing that behavior could be modified through reinforcement, which created lasting changes in behavior. His famous experiments with animals in "Skinner boxes" demonstrated how rewards and punishments influenced future actions.

4. Criticism of Behaviorism

While behaviorism explains many aspects of learning, it has been criticized for oversimplifying the learning process by ignoring the internal cognitive processes. Critics argue that humans are not just passive responders to stimuli, but active learners who process and interpret information.

5. Alternative Learning Theories

Behaviorism was dominant in the early 20th century but has since been supplemented by other learning theories:

• Cognitive Learning Theories: Emphasize mental processes such as attention, memory, and problem-solving.

• Constructivism (Piaget, Vygotsky): Suggests that learners actively construct knowledge through experiences and social interaction.

Would you like to explore cognitive learning theories or delve further into any specific behaviorist experiments or concepts?