Reflective Learning Blog
The most beneficial and interesting learning experience I had while studying the behaviorist theory of teaching was the group discussion. I thoroughly enjoyed discussing this theory with fellow teachers, and especially hearing the thoughts of the elementary school teachers. I teach middle school and primarily deal with only secondary education, therefore, it was great to hear how the elementary teachers use this form of teaching.
Initially, I had a lot of misgivings about the behaviorist theory. It feels as though in today’s teaching world this type of teaching is a bad word: rote memorization, drill, etc. I think we have gotten so far away from the behaviorist theory that we have forgotten about the true benefits of it. Sometimes the only way students learn is through drill, practice, and memorization. I learned from the elementary school teachers that this is one of the best ways to learn basic skills. In secondary education I am seeing a lot of those basic skills are lost on the student because they have not practiced them enough. By the time a student gets to secondary education they should know basic skills backwards and forwards so they may move on to more critical thinking assignments. I recently read an article in TIME magazine about a book called Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother. The author, Amy Chua, discusses the importance of the behaviorist theory and, more specifically, the importance of drill and practice. Chua’s book is essentially about the way Chinese mothers raise their children, and has created a firestorm in mothers across the United States. Love her or hate her, she makes a strong point in that we have gotten away from the theory that sometimes practice does make perfect.
