Skinner and Bandura on School Learning Environments

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Skinner and Bandura on School Learning Environments
B. F. Skinner and Albert Bandura were prominent psychologists whose behavioral concepts focus on effective learning. Theories introduced by these individuals have been vital in addressing various issues in real life. Skinner and Bandura believed that the primary goal of psychology is to find multiple ways to make learning effective and enjoyable for all students. Currently, schools use concepts from these psychologists to enhance the learning process. Skinner’s learning theory assumption is that the best strategy to modify learners’ behaviors is by changing the environment. On the contrary, Bandura’s theory suggested that behaviors are learned via conditioning. The paper compares and contrasts Skinner and Bandura’s learning theories and how they can be applied in school learning environments.
Skinner’s reinforcement theory posits that the consequences significantly determine people’s behaviors. When individuals are rewarded for specific behaviors, they tend to repeat them regularly. Conversely, behaviors that receive negative reinforcement are unlikely to be repeated. Positive reinforcement is strengthened by rewards, which facilitate specific desirable behaviors (Rafi 177). Skinner showed how positive reinforcement works by placing a rat in a Skinner box. On one side of the box, there was a lever, which led to the dropping of a food pellet when knocked. When the rat learned that knocking the lever provided it with food, it repeated the action every time it needed to eat (Carpenter and Huffman 9).
On the other hand, negative reinforcement causes a termination of unpleasant behavior. Educators can apply Skinner’s reinforcement theory to create a conducive learning environment at school. For example, a teacher can motivate students to learn by rewarding those who perform well in a particular test. When a student gets a grade A in a specific subject and gets a prize or praise, the learner will likely study hard to retain that good performance. However, a student with grade E should be punished to avoid the repetition of the undesirable grade. For instance, the teacher can ask the learner to retake the course and develop conditions, such as suspension or discontinuation of the student who performs poorly.
Skinner’s emphasis on operant conditioning shows that human behaviors are maintained and shaped by consequences. Positive and negative reinforcements encourage desirable and undesirable behaviors, respectively. Operant conditioning is effective in the school learning environment. As explained above, students with excellent academic performance should receive rewards, praises, and gifts from their teachers (Overskeid 1). In some instances, the teacher might request such learners to volunteer and guide others to follow specific procedures in scientific or mathematical tests. Positive reinforcements motivate students to repeat desirable behaviors. Currently, many schools have implemented online education, where students can attend virtual classes at the comfort of their homes. In this context, operant conditioning has also been found to be more effective in promoting good performance. For instance, motivational messages, issuance of the certificate of completion, and badges are reward mechanisms that foster excellent academic performance (Troussas et al. 1). Consequently, Skinner’s theories are crucial in shaping learning environments and promoting effective knowledge acquisition through positive reinforcement.
On the contrary, Bandura’s social learning theory emphasizes the significance of modeling, observing, and imitating others’ attitudes, emotional reactions, and behaviors. Indeed, it postulates that cognitive and environmental factors should interact to foster effective learning. Educational institutions are encouraged to use social learning tools in helping students to obtain knowledge in different fields. For example, universities should allow learners to use social media to learn since current generations, such as millennials and Generation Z, have been brought up in the era of technology (Khechine et al. 2306). Bandura asserted that the environment shapes behaviors through observational learning. In reality, the use of social media can be used as a reward mechanism. For instance, learners who perform well in their studies can be rewarded by playing video games. The actions of educators determine students’ behaviors at school. That is why teachers are encouraged to be good role models since learners tend to copy their behaviors. For example, if a teacher enters the class and starts to play a game on his or her phone, students might, at some point, engage in such actions, and it can be challenging to stop them. From a young age, children obtain knowledge through environmental observation. As they grow, observation does not hinder effective learning.