I found two strategies that I felt could work very well in my classroom from the reading and correlate with the principles of behaviorist learning.
The first comes from the chapter on reinforcing effort. The suggestion is that students keep an effort spreadsheet to track their own effort. In the beginning of the chapter, it was suggested that effort was the one step to success that is most often overlooked. Based on my personal experience, I tend to agree with this. I think back to the times I struggled with math and simply found it easier to give up. This is unfortunate because effort seems to be the one key to success that can trump all of the others. An effort spreadsheet would be an effective use of technology because it would let students keep track of their effort and give them visualizations of how they are perceiving their effort. I feel that the graphs are the key to this strategy, as they allow students to visualize their effort instead of attempting to interpret numbers. I feel that the survey suggestion from this chapter could be utilized in the same manner. Though this strategy would be effective, I lack the necessary technology in the classroom to visit this daily.
The second strategy is one I definitely plan on using in my classroom. In chapter 10, the suggestion for using communication software like Google Docs and Writeboard was made. I feel that this would be an effective use of behaviorist theory and technology because it would allow students to positively (or negatively) reinforce one another. A program that would make this even better is the new Google Wave, which allows for real-time document editing. A great assignment would be a collaborative essay in which students went through the writing process together, sharing ideas and suggestions throughout.
Moodle Presentation
13 years ago
I also liked the idea of rewarding a child’s effort because like you I feel it is often over looked. My only concern besides the obvious of lack of technology in the classrooms is how much time completing these charts would take out of the instructional/educational piece. In my school district we are required to have our students complete a work folder assessment. Meaning that each student is required to read the feedback given by the teacher on an assignment or assessment and then provide feedback of their own by completing their chart. This process takes a whole class period to complete and is done numerous times throughout the marking period. So I wonder how much time completing an effort chart would take and how could you effectively use this in your classroom while using the least amount of time possible. What about using a point system to show effort and all they would have to do is tally up their marks?
ReplyDeleteDuring this week's resources, I have learned that using technology to enhance behaviorist theories is extremely important. It maintains an active learning environment in which students receive rewards for their work. I really like your use of computer activities that incorporates behaviorist theories.
ReplyDeleteI really like your idea of the collaborative essay assignment with Google Wave. So you plan on actually doing this with your students? If so, let us know how it turns out!
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of the students spread sheeting their progress. As a p.e. teacher I have thought about doing this for my students and their steps in a day, or their actual minutes of exercising. Getting the students to log would show me what they are doing, and also would be evidence of their own moving in accordance to what we recommend.
ReplyDelete-One strategy I've thought about is giving students a weekly effort chart and having them turn it in on Friday. This wouldn't take any class time and would still give students the opportunity to reflect.
ReplyDelete-I plan on using Google Wave once it is out of the Beta mode. Right now it's not open to everyone publicly so it would be difficult to get everyone signed up.