Conditioning: yields immediate benefits, but destructive in the long run

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Reading about this topic, it really made me believe that this may be the reason to why we learn and explain academic processes. I realized that maybe the teachers knew about this learning theory so they used or integrated it into class activities to get us students to be reinforced to learn. However, reading the weaknesses, criticisms and flaws of the topic made me remember that it is just a theory after all. That it’s not the only type of learning. I also realized that being reinforced to learn may not be the best method to train students to develop an active learning behavior. It would only teach students that learning is only the response and not the goal itself. Learning would not be done if there would be no reinforcement so maybe this theory and it’s concepts are only fit for college level students who understand that learning is a life long process; hence, there will be not side effect where active learning behavior will no longer be expressed when there is no reinforcement.

Another issue of enforcing and practicing this theory is if students knew about this learning theory in depth, they would then either be immune or encouraged to participate in such conditioning and reinforcing tactics. Students would be immune because they now know that these reinforcements are just for students to be interested and active in learning. While student would be encouraged since they now know how to play the game. They know that they have to attain or perform in a certain degree in order to get the reinforcement, which may be good grades, praise, etc. In general, the factor that causes students to be immune or encouraged to the conditioning and reinforcing activities in class or school is individual choice and mindset, which is something behavioral theories did not account for.

I guess agree that the reinforcement, punishing and conditioning tactic does work, but students are not mindless. Sooner or later they’ll figure this system out and be demotivated or they’ll be so dependent on the system that the learning behavior can only be reproduced when there is a reinforcement or punishment. And then I realized, I don’t want my students to be forced to have and perform an active learning behavior like a circus trick I have up my sleeve. I now know that the class reports with reinforcement of money and tangible goods which I conducted before in high school were only beneficial for me and my grades. But I now that think of it critically, I don’t think it did any good to my classmates except teach them that learning is only for reinforcing activities rather than a lifelong passion that needs to be pursued.