The learning perspective is the science that studies the environmental and experiential influences on a person’s actions and behavior. In the learning perspective, scientists have proposed two ideas that explain why people behave the way they do; these are behaviorism and social-cognitive learning theory.
Behaviorism includes two theories: classical conditioning, and operant conditioning (McLeod, Psychology Perspectives, 2007). Classical conditioning proposes that behavior, attitudes, and responses are developed by associations. For example, a dog can be conditioned to salivate to the sound of a bell if every time that the bell is rung, food appears. Operant conditioning, on the contrary, is the theory that suggests that behavior, attitudes,
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These are observational learning and mediational processes (McLeod, Bandura- Social Learning Theory, 2011). According to Albert Bandura, human behavior is influenced by the observations made on others’ behaviors. For example, if parents have a certain concept about something, the child will adapt this concept/ opinion. In mediational processes, however, Bandura says that before a person imitates behavior, he first considers the influence. Thus, there would be an input in the individual, which is the environmental factor, followed by a mental process by the individual, and concluded by an output, the individual’s behavior.
The Learning Perspective in Biology
Biology, simply put, is the science of life (Bagley, 2014). It encompasses the study of the structure and functions of the organelles in cells, to the growth, development, function, origin, evolution, and distribution of living organisms. The learning perspective is closely related to Biology since it studies the behavior of living organisms and the effect the environment has on them.
Observational Learning in
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Operant conditioning comes in to play a role in the development of this crucial skill quite often in the classroom. The lecturer either commends critical thinking or rebukes the lack of it, not only in report writing, but also in the answering of questions in the classroom, in quizzes, and in tests. In Biology, there is no room for laziness, and lecturers ensure that the students realize this. When asked a question, they do their best to answer as best as possible to avoid being humiliated and disappointing the lecturer, and consequently, themselves. They take pride in receiving approval from their lecturer when they have thought considerably and critically about a circumstance and have come to a correct conclusion.
In report writing, quizzes, and tests, their ability to think critically affects the students’ grades. Thus, they attempt to do as well as possible either to avoid a failing grade, or to achieve an excellent
The article, “Critical Thinking? You Need Knowledge” by Diane Ravitch, discusses how in the past people have been deprived from the thinking process and abstract thinking skills. Students need to be given more retainable knowledge by their teachers to improve their critical thinking skills. (Ravitch).
Paul, R. and Elder, L., (2008). The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking-Concepts and Tools, 5th. Ed., Foundation for Critical Thinking Press: Dillon Beach, CA
According to Jeffery, (1965), the classical conditioning or known as Pavlovian conditioning is the changes of behaviour that was elicited by the stimulus and involuntary response, while the operant conditioning is the behaviour changes due to the consequences got. The consequences can be in term of reinforcement and punishment.
Behaviorism revolves around the measurable and observable characteristics of human behavior, and is based off of the principle that behavior is a result of stimulus-response associations. The purpose of this learning theory is using conditioning in order to acquire a desired behavior. Once understood, the use of behaviorism can be an effective tool in the classroom for educators to use.
The student will not longer rely on the internet and or a peer for their work resulting in critical thinking being used more often. Not only is improving the students skills but,“It also provides students a clear explanation of the importance of behaving with the
Many theories have been thought of over the years to attempt to explain why people behave the way they do. Many questions were brought up when thinking about that and the social learning theory is a popular theory in explaining this. Nobody really thought of the social learning theory too much until Albert Bandura wrote his idea of it. He actually wrote a book called “Social Learning Theory.” In this book, he states that behavior is learned from the environment through the process of observational learning(Saul McLeod).
Behavioral psychology is a concept that is pegged on the idea that people behaviors through conditioning. Behaviorists believe that people learn through observing and imitating their environment. A child is more predisposed to violence if they were brought up in a war-torn country than if they were brought up a peaceful country.
Critical thinking is recognized by accrediting bodies as an outcome for graduates of bachelor and master’s level programs, but no consensus exits on its definition and measurements (Ali, Bantz, & Siktberg, 2005, p. 90). Some critical thinking “descriptors are: confidence, contextual perspective, flexibility, inquisitiveness, intellectual integrity, intuition, open-mindedness, perseverance, and reflection. In addition, individuals who think critically have the ability to use the cognitive skills of analyzing, applying standards, discriminating, seeking information, reasoning logically, and transforming knowledge (Scheffer & Rubenfeld, 2000) (Ali, Bantz, & Siktberg, 2005, p. 90).
Critical thinking is a significant and essential topic in recent education. The strategy of critical thinking skills helps identify areas in one's courses as the suitable place to highlight, expand and use some problems in exams that test students' critical thinking skills.
There are three main behaviorist trends that are associated with Behaviorism and help us to understand human development. These are classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and social learning theory. They not only have historical value but also provide useful concepts to understanding human development.
As a direct result of this assumption it is critical that we as educators teach our children/pupils the importance of Critical thinking in these fields of study. For example, elementary math teachers can help students build their critical thinking and problem solving skills by asking them to look for a logical structure when solving math problems and back up their answers with verifiable evidence. “It’s no longer about what a student knows, it’s about what they can do with what they know,” assistant superintendent Kimberly Beck said, according to The Ridgefield Press (Wilson,
“Behavior theory consists of ideas about how human actions and emotions develop, are sustained, and are extinguished through principles of learning” (Walsh, 2010). Positive and negative reinforcement is used to help manipulate the behaviors of the individual. The theory has been used to help eliminate unwanted behaviors. In addition, behavior theory has been use primarily with children, and persons with developmental disabilities. According to Walsh (2010) behavior theory evolved in the 1960s from a field of philosophy to the field of science. Ivan Pavlov discovered classical conditioning, which plays a major role in behavioral theory. Classical conditioning is the process of learning through ones surroundings, conditioned, and unconditioned stimuli and response. B. F. Skinner discovered operant conditioning the process of learning to influence the future responses to the environment (Clark, 2004). The two concepts has been used throughout the behavior theory to help assist clients with unacceptable behaviors that is occurring. The combination of the two concepts has been a very helpful aspect to the behavior theory. Both concepts offer a different approach or solution to the behavior of the client.
Behaviorist theory is that any and all behaviors can be learned, emotional or otherwise. This learning is founded on an impression that all behaviors are developed by the means of conditioning. The behaviorist theory has been affected by many important scientists. The main contributors to this theory are: John B. Watson, Ivan Pavlov, and B.F. Skinner. The two major components of the behaviorist theory are from Pavlov and Skinner and they are classical conditioning and operant conditioning. Watson was “the founder of behavioral psychology the aim of which was to predict and control human behavior” (John, 2011). Behaviorism believes that a person’s behavior is the product of the environment in which the subject is involved.
Behaviorism is a theory of learning that focuses on the way that pleasant or unpleasant consequences of behavior can change someone’s behavior over time. It’s based upon the idea that all behaviors are developed through forms of conditioning. Conditioning happens through interacting with the environment, and behaviorism is the belief that our responses to these environmental stimuli shape our behaviors.
Behaviorism is the point of view where learning and behavior are described and explained in terms of stimulus-response relationships. Behaviorists agree that an individual’s behaviors is a result of their interaction with the environment. Feedback, praise and rewards are all ways people can respond to becoming conditioned. The focus is on observable events instead of events that happen in one’s head. The belief that learning has not happened unless there is an observable change in behavior. “The earliest and most Ardent of behaviourists was Watson (1931; Medcof and Roth, 1991; Hill 1997). His fundamental conclusion from many experimental observations of animal and childhood learning was that stimulus-response (S-R) connections are more likely to be established the more frequently or recently an S-R bond occurs. A child solving a number problem might have to make many unsuccessful trials before arriving at the correct solution” (Childs, 2004).