Skinner pinpoints the causes of his disappointment in American schooling: one, that the accepted cognitive psychological theory merely replaces old problems with new names and thus fails to provide any new or recent breakthroughs in regards to methods or effectiveness of teaching, two, that effective teaching theory is not being taught to teachers, and, three, the fact that technology is not utilized to its proper potential in educational situations. He lists hopeful solutions to these issues, which includes integrating "teaching machines" into the classroom to promote individual learning and success, proper instruction for potential teachers, and awareness of the necessity to revise teaching methods.
I don’t believe that Skinner
would be incredibly happy with education today. I believe he would say we are
still experiencing the application “lag” – that is, Skinner might believe that we
have the proper tools and theory for success, but are lagging in the practical
application of such resources.
I believe that the School of One
would be favorable to Skinner. Essentially, the school is applying his
principle of “teaching machines” to the pupils and allowing them to move at
their own pace – both choices that would make Skinner proud. Skinner might hope
that this method be more widespread.
Nice post here, Hannah. I think you're on it.
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