Weekly Reflection

Due: September 20, 2005

"Radical Behaviorism"

Radical Behaviorism assumes that there are things in our environment that determine how and when we learn and perform.  However, I believe that there are physical mental, and psychological aspects that may also affect learning.

For example, human beings have a natural desire to create and modify their own “space”.  Behaviorists do not believe that it is important to know why.  However, we know that when students are given the opportunity to creatively design their own environment, they perform better…unless there is some physical, mental, or
psychological reasons that prohibit them from doing so. 

I have learned from experience that a student's performance on the TAKS test may be affected by any number of physical, mental, or psychological situations in the days leading up to the test or even the day of the test, yet these aspects are not taken into consideration when administering these tests.  Is it important that we (as instructors) know why?  I believe it is.  Many of these situations are more physical, mental, and psychological than they are environmental.  Schools and districts are now penalized if
their student attendance on the day of the test is lower that required.

I heard that this year exceptions may be made (as far as TAKS is concerned) for evacuee students from New Orleans.  Everyone understands that these students have had experiences that may adversely affect their performance on the test.  I believe this
is the right thing to do.  However, every year we have students around this nation who face crisis beyond their control (e.g. loss of family members, illness, CPS removal from homes, etc), yet their situations are not taken into consideration.

While Radical Behaviorism acknowledges that there environmental situations that affect learning, it does not hold to the idea that a student's psyche may play a vital role in learning.  Skinner is quoted as saying, "questions that should never have been asked".  I
believe that definition of Behaviorism will continue to change to include other ways of understanding learning including mental, physical, and psychological aspects.