B.F. Skinner: The “Jules Verne” of Psychology Abel L. Villarreal Austin Community College Teacher Certification Program
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Journey to the Center of the Earth Popularized science-fiction “Anything one man can imagine, other men can make real” Walden II Beyond Freedom & Dignity Popularized Cognitive Psychology “Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten”
View of 1950’s education Rote instruction Rote instruction One curriculum fits everyone One curriculum fits everyone No rewards for desired behavior No rewards for desired behavior Everyone on the same “learning” timetable Everyone on the same “learning” timetable
Skinner’s View of Education programmed instruction self-paced technology driven instant feedback positive reinforcement of desired behavior
Skinner’s Cognition Paradigm Desired Behavior Repetition Reward
Evolution of Skinner’s “instrumental aids”
From this…
To this…
Pause and Reflect What effect will Skinner’s paradigm have on YOUR classroom?