Activity 2.3 Corrected Post

Three Main Points: 

·         Cognitive psychology does not directly address the real problem in American education, which is inefficiency in teaching.

·         Educators must be schooled in effective teaching methodology, which includes the consistent use of reinforcement.

·         Individualized, programmed instruction which offers many opportunities for success, clearly states objectives and effectively schedules reinforcement will lead to a much higher rate of learning in the same number of school hours.

Skinner would still be ashamed of American education.  Instructional programming has not kept pace with growth and innovation in technology.  Instruction is infrequently differentiated and individualized and large scale standardized tests perpetuate uniformity across classrooms and schools within a state.  Instructional programming is not designed to provide “abundant reinforcement” (Skinner, 1984), but rather uniform performance.

B. F. Skinner would be very pleased with the school of one concept.  It uses an algorithm to implement successful teaching strategies and frees up the teachers.  Programmed learning gives each student what they need to be successful through individual technology-based instruction, and does not require that students advance at the same pace as their classmates.  Instruction is determined by student needs. The responsibility for effective teaching in the School of One Model rests with the teacher.