Module 2

Bill Kerr (2007) and Stephen Downes (2007) have conflicting opinions on the behaviorist theory. Kerr believes to a certain extent that we are all behaviorists while Downes feels that the behaviorist theory is an ancient theory and that instructional design is for one reason or another still based on this ancient theory (Kerr, 2007). I agree with Kerr(2007). Skinner's theory of behaviorism is based on reinforcement, which is something that is very evident in today's society. We do well at our jobs, we get a raise or promotion. We go to the gym and work out every night, we begin to see results and we keep going. Behaviorism is a cycle of a behavior, followed by reinforcement and the behavior often being repeated due to the reinforcement. This theory is very much evident in today's society as well as instructional design. Instructional design also functions off of reinforcement. A teacher implements a new strategy in a classroom, the students grasp the concept being taught easily (our reinforcement) and we use this strategy again.

Kerr (2007) also discusses in his blog post that the "-isms" are necessary to explain changes and that each -ism has a useful piece to it. "It seems to me that each _ism is offering something useful without any of them being complete or stand alone in their own right" (Kerr, 2007). I agree with this statement, if we could take the useful pieces from each theory and develop one effective theory that explained how we learn and how we process information these theories would be much more effective.


Karl Kapp (2007), discusses this same idea in his blog post "Out and About." He states that not one of theories one hundred percent explains how humans process information. 


References

Kerr, B. (2007, January 1). _isms as filter, not blinker [Web log post]. Retrieved fromhttp://billkerr2.blogspot.com/2007/01/isms-as-filter-not-blinker.html

Kapp, K. (2007, January 2). Out and about: Discussion on educational schools of thought [Web log post]. Retrieved fromhttp://www.kaplaneduneering.com/kappnotes/index.php/2007/01/out-and-about-discussion-on-educational/