Activity 2.3

The main point of Skinner's article was that education is currently dysfunctional. According to Skinner it is neither the teacher nor the student's fault but instead that society is rejecting behaviorism within the schools. Skinner indicates that he feels that American education's problems could be solved by what I took as two main ways (though he listed more) through allowing a student to learn at his/her own pace and therefore fixing the problem of motivation and bad behavior within the schools.

I do believe Skinner would be ashamed of American education today. I know within School Psychology individualized education is something we are really striving for; however, it is not currently the norm within schools. I believe a lot of what Skinner said was dysfunctional about schools continues to be dysfunctional. For example, he brought up the fact that many college professors who teach teachers how to teach are not effective teachers themselves. It continues to be this insidious cycle. I also know that within schools computers are being implemented more for progress monitoring and the like but they are still not sources of instruction.

I think, based on the article, that Skinner would definitely support the School of One approach. "Teaching machines" are being employed, students are taught at their own pace, and everyone seems to be much more motivated.

Finally, I think Skinner makes it quite clear in the video clip that freewill does not exist, that it is a fad of this century, and an imagined internal state. Therefore, it has no base in learning.

This is a gif from Dr. Who that popped into my mind while reading about the type of education Skinner envisioned.

http://imgflip.com/i/20qmy