Behaviorism is widely used in our schools. The emphasis Dr. Obey had in the video for this weeks class told of creating opportunities to reinforce positive behaviors much more than negative ones. Behaviorism is the concept of practice, defined as repeating a system or process to acquire a skill. Teaching the students games or practice strategies that help take the boredom of repetition is a key component for success for the learner, especially when learning a new skill. The repetition is the key component in behaviorism.
Repetition for a young musician is developing the four major lobes of the brain. The use of the occular cortex for translating the musical language, the motor cortex to coordinate all the muscles being used, the temporal cortex to determine correct pitch and length, and the frontal lobe to decide how to interpret the music, are all being used while playing an instrument. Marzano's study show twenty-four repetitions to attain an eighty percent recall is the magic number for me. One of my trumpet texts states that in order to really learn a new piece to play it twice very slowly, then to repeat the piece another "fifty times" gradually speeding up from time 25-50.(Jacoby, 1990) At this stage the piece begins to feel comfortable. The repetition is what cements it to the lobes of the brain.
Reference:
DVD: Behaviorist Learning Theory, Laureate Education, 2009
Pitler, H. Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works McRel, 2007,
Denver Colorado
Jacoby, J. Jake's Method, Jockobotz Publishing, Denton, TX 1990
Music is a great example of the behaviorist theory of drill and practice. Musicians have to practice and I like how you come up with stratagies to combat the boredom of repetition. Also, I had no idea music involved all of the major lobes of the brain. A very interesting read.
ReplyDeleteThe level of engagement within a person's brain is phenomenal. Just think what we could accomplish setting more schoolwork to music. Writing skills in my elementary students improved drastically since I started playing light classical CDs during the writing time.
ReplyDeleteAs a math and music person, I was able to benefit from all that you speak of while growing up. Math requires the same type of practice and repition that music does. The students truely have to practice a skill numerous amounts of times before they can say that they have mastered it. Incorporating the motor skills is more of a challenge, however the use of manipulatives and the incorportation of games that require the students to move help.
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