In a multi-cultural school with an average proportion of special needs in Surrey, was where I was able to observe in a Reception class; the most prominent teaching approach used was behaviourism. This is an approach according to many behaviourist psychologists that, humans are born as ‘tabula rasa’ (a blank slate). Also that humans are nurtured to learn by making ‘associations’ and ‘bonds’ with their past and present experiences and behaviours. Especially in reception, this is when most children start full time education. Therefore it may be easier for the teacher to start off fresh and new with the children; as the days go on the teacher will be easily able to identify the different learning styles and stages each child is at. ‘Behaviourist
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Pavlov 1897 and operant conditioning developed by B.F. Skinner 1936. Pavlov discovered that through classical conditioning, he could teach dogs to salivate at the ring of a bell. This was because previously he brought food and the sound of the bell together, and after a certain period of conditioning; the dogs made an association and salivated at the sound of the bell. During my two one week blocks at the school, I was able to see classical conditioning in its process. In block 1 I saw that as soon as the class teacher shook the tambourine, the children would stop all activities and listen to the teacher for instructions to clean up the classroom. By block 2 the children knew to stop all activities and start to tidy up the classroom after the sound of the tambourine. This shows that they had made a clear association between the sound of the tambourine and cleaning up. B.F. Skinner developed operant conditioning based on the work of E. Thorndike, who studied learning in animals through using a puzzle box to propose the theory ‘Law of Effect.’ Which states that any behaviour that is reinforced by a reward is likely to be repeated, and any behaviour that is reinforced by a punishment is likely to be stopped. This shows us that it is heavily based on positive reinforcements and negative consequences. In a classroom environment this is when children positively works hard to receive a sticker; or for misbehaving, so they will be the last one let out for play
Pavlov 1897 and operant conditioning developed by B.F. Skinner 1936. Pavlov discovered that through classical conditioning, he could teach dogs to salivate at the ring of a bell. This was because previously he brought food and the sound of the bell together, and after a certain period of conditioning; the dogs made an association and salivated at the sound of the bell. During my two one week blocks at the school, I was able to see classical conditioning in its process. In block 1 I saw that as soon as the class teacher shook the tambourine, the children would stop all activities and listen to the teacher for instructions to clean up the classroom. By block 2 the children knew to stop all activities and start to tidy up the classroom after the sound of the tambourine. This shows that they had made a clear association between the sound of the tambourine and cleaning up. B.F. Skinner developed operant conditioning based on the work of E. Thorndike, who studied learning in animals through using a puzzle box to propose the theory ‘Law of Effect.’ Which states that any behaviour that is reinforced by a reward is likely to be repeated, and any behaviour that is reinforced by a punishment is likely to be stopped. This shows us that it is heavily based on positive reinforcements and negative consequences. In a classroom environment this is when children positively works hard to receive a sticker; or for misbehaving, so they will be the last one let out for play