The discussion on behaviorism has closed.
Below are some of my thoughts on behaviorism I would like to share with you. The
importance of drill and practice relates to the notion of automaticity. In order
to perform complex intellectual tasks such as reading, writing, and solving math
problems, it is essential that learners master sub-skills to the level of
automaticity. It means that learners should be able to perform these sub-skills
without thinking or automatically. If one writes, one needs to master spelling
of vocabulary and sentence structures. To solve complicated math problems, one
needs to master basic calculating skills and formulas. Once I talked to my
friend who was studying for her Ph.D. in math. She told me that math did involve
lots of memorization. Please do not misunderstand. Drill and practice is a
component of learning, not everything about learning. One’s working memory is
limited in capacity. One can only process limited numbers of mental operations
at a time. It affects the operation of higher order skills if too much memory is
devoted to operating sub-skills. The mastery of sub-skills will free working
memory so that more working memory can be devoted to operate higher order
skills. Comparing with paper drills, computer drills have the following
advantages: Computer drills are fun. It is boring to be drilled. No one likes to
be drilled. Computer drills integrate games into drill and practice. While the
learner is playing games, the learner is being drilled. Computer drills provide
immediate feedback. Time is always an issue to drill students in classroom
settings. With too many students in class, the teacher finds it difficult to
provide adequate time to drill each student. If students drill themselves, they
might make mistakes without being corrected immediately. The mistake might
perpetuate itself. Computer drills provide learners immediate feedback. Mistakes
are corrected immediately. Computer drills remove psychological barriers in
student drilling process. If students are drilled in class, it is quite
humiliating for students to make mistakes in front of the class. Computer drills
can remove this psychological barrier. No one knows that the learner makes a
mistake, but the computer. Computers never get tired. Students can practice and
repeat a skill as many times as possible.
