BEHAVIORIST VS CONSTRUCTIVIST

BEHAVIORIST VS CONSTRUCTIVIST
In this class what we have learned is pretty much the same things we have learned back in our Maktab. The topic is on the leaning theory approaches, but in this class the focus is actually more on these two approaches, which are behaviorists and constructivists. Without wasting much more pages, let us go through these 2 approaches.
BEHAVIORIST @ DIRECT INSTRUCTIONAL APPROACH.
Behaviorism is a theory expounded by the psychologist B F Skinner, who argued that cause and effect is what controls behavior, not the mind or reasoning. The keyword to Behaviorism is “conditioning” or “training.” This approach can be as well called Direct Instructional approach. In educational concept, this method is more to teacher-centered approach. The teacher has to plan and play his/ her role to make the class more effective and the pupils are the passive listeners. In applying teaching science and technology together, the idea of using websites emerges. The websites are basically taking a small role of the teacher in this idea. Some websites are using this approach and some are not. The different is, this websites might be more directed with steps and instructions for the students to follow. This is one example of behaviorist @ direct instructional approach science website:
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/


CONSTRUCTIVIST APPROACH
This approach is totally differing with the previous one, as this approach focus more on pupils. Piaget called these systems of knowledge schemata. Constructivism is not a specific pedagogy, although it is often confused with constructionism, an educational theory developed by Seymour Papert, inspired by constructivist and experiential learning ideas of Jean Piaget . Piaget stresses that the method is based on constructing pupils background knowledge (schemata). The role is more on the pupils, as they determine their own learning. Most importantly, the pupils need to experience new things on his own to expand and develop their knowledge. There are also some science websites which are created based on this approach. Normally, these websites gives pupils chances to learn and experience learning by themselves. There will be lesser instruction given and pupils can choose what they prefer to learn rather than everything to be sorted out for them. These are the examples of the websites:
http://tryscience.org/

There are off course some shortcomings and benefits in each one of these approaches. The best is to be able to integrate both of these approaches appropriately according to the input given and the pupils’ level. The main important is for the teacher to be able to choose what’s best for their pupils.