Improving Human Learning - Essay Example

Operant conditioning is associated with B. F Skinner while classical conditioning is associated with Pavlov. Cognitivism is associated with Chomsky while constructivism is associated with John Dewey among others (Taylor and MacKenney, 2008).

Write a reflection on how that theorist would impact a future teacher.
The reflection will be based on the behaviorist theory by Ivan Pavlov. This theory examines learning through the conditioning of children in the way of pairing the undesired with the desired. This would be very effective, especially for a teacher who has a new class and would like them to follow a specific pattern of behavior in learning.

The new learning pattern of behavior would be used in conjunction with the old behavior of learning which did not seem to be yielding any positive results in the long run. Since there was the behavior the students were used to and the results were negative and the new behavior which the teacher wants them to learn which elicits no response, the two learning behaviors should be paired together over some time to yield positive results. With time, the new behavior being used alone will elicit positive results and at this juncture, the old and non-productive behavior will completely be eliminated. Read More