Learning Log Chapter 10

What?      

This week in class and through the reading, I learned a new theory called social cognitivism. Its much like behaviorism, but also different in three ways. Learning is defined as a change in mental structure and is influenced by beliefs and expectations. The interactions of behavior, environment, and personal factors effects each other. Reinforcement and punishment cause expectations that lead to behavior. The basic assumptions of social cognitivism theory are people can by observing other, behavior is directed by certain goals, and its much self-regulated theory. Modeling can be used with a real person or a symbolic character that shape students' behaviors based on their actions, for example Kobe Bryant. When students' have effective models they learn only when four things occur they are; attention, retention, motor-reproduction, and motivation. As teachers its important to model the right way using its characteristics, because we help pass on culture to generations by what we teach them. The way you model can effect behavior for good and bad in students'. They observe you and then demonstrate things you do and when watching another get punished for a previous behavior they possess, they will do this behavior less often. Children have to have self-efficacy in the skills they accomplish, or els they will never become a self-regulated person in completing school and control behavior.

So What?    

This information about social cognitivism is important for me as a future teacher to know about to understand my students'. With them being in first grade a lot of them are still very young and probably still getting used to school environment. There behavior and self-efficacy aren't set so emotions are always up and down. It's good to know how to model behavior and academic skills, so that they can start to apply them to daily life. Using reinforcements will be handy when children achieve certain class goals or don't behave in certain ways during a assembly. This is a part of the syllabus, in that, the way that one behaves effects the way they learn and the friends they make. Children need friends to learn essential behavior qualities from, so this is important. This knowledge will help me to be a great teacher by helping to control my students' behaviors in the right ways and teaching them how to manage their own work each day.

Now What?   

 In the future I'll use this information in my classroom everyday to control class management and performance of students'. They will learn to accomplish tasks on their own, so they can gain a strong self-efficacy. They need a strong foundation in correct behavior and confidence to continue on with school and life. I think there still things for me to learn about this subject, but I'll have to learn it over time observing different classrooms. 

ch.9 Learning Log

What?
This week in class and through the reading I learned about Behaviorism and its characteristics. Operant condtioning is a part of behaviorism and a way to make good behavior reoccur again. This is done by a good response being followed by a reinforcing stimulus, which is a reward in a way to some. In any type od behavior teachers or students can behave in one of two ways: classical conditioning which is involuntary or operant conditioning which is voluntary. Reinforcement increases behavior no matter if its positive or negative. It's important to encourage behavior depending on the student development stage which will effect the reinforcements you use. For example by being a role of motivation and using it at the right times, not in fron of the whole class are examples of development levels. To be effective in changing students behaviors use shaping. This is done by breaking tasks into smaller sections so that students can accomplish them. Also by having a criterion that each student can reach eventually by the end of the year is considered shaping. While using shaping use sucessive approximation by reinforcing students behavior until it gets closer and closer to your goal.

So what?
The topic of behaviorism and its counterparts are very important to know as a future teacher, so that when you see bad behavior you'll know how to help change it. Studnets are always going to have bad days but by you knowing them ans what they may be going through shows them you care and want to help. You could have them keep a behavior chart and only you two would know about it. By knowing how to react and how punishment doesn't increase learing you'll help children by shaping their manners and view of work. This is included in the syllabus, because behaviorism is what plays into classroom management and if your kids can't learn to respect you and focus learning and improvement won't happen. I know that by using pratical reinforcers and knowing ways to eliminate behaviors ,the students will know how to treat others by how I respond to them, treat them, and except from them. By working with parents to guide behavior also at home and to have communication back and forth about concerns will improve my relationships with parents and eventually students because they will be improving. This is how I'll be a great teacher.

Now What?
I'll use behaviorism in my future teaching each day as I experience many behaviors. I'll be careful how I use reinforcers because each student is unique. I need to learn more about ways to communicate operant conditioning principles to students and its effect on them first hand. By reading more about classroom management and experiencing how its managed in classrooms, I'll learn how to use behaviorism correctly.