Is Skinner Still Relevant in Instructional Design?
B.F. Skinner was an American psychologist and behaviorist, born in 1904. He is renowned for his work in the field of psychology and his development of a theory later referred to as behaviorism.
Behaviorism was a dominant force in psychology of the 20th century and heavily influenced early instructional design theories. Hence Skinner became a prominent source of reference in the history of instructional design. In the early days of this field, when the military was among its primary clients, the focus was on creating systematic, step-by-step experiences that aimed to elicit specific behaviors or responses from learners. This alignment with behaviorism was evident in the development of programmed instruction and behavior modification techniques.
What exactly are Skinner’s contributions to theories of learning ? How much are his ideas still valid in today’s instructional design world, particularly with the proliferation of self-paced eLearning? In this essay, I will examine three important articles by Skinner that represent a seminal intersection of learning theory and technology.
- The science of learning and the art of teaching, 1954
- Teaching machines, 1958
- The technology of teaching, 1965
