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.