Programmed instruction
Encyclopedia
Programmed instruction is the name of the technology invented by the behaviorist B.F. Skinner to improve teaching. It is based on his theory of verbal behavior as a means to accelerate and increase conventional educational learning.
that presents material structured in a logical and empirically developed sequence or sequences. Programmed instruction may be presented by a teacher as well, and it has been argued that the principles of programmed instruction can improve classic lectures and textbooks. Programmed instruction allows students to progress through a unit of study at their own rate, checking their own answers and advancing only after answering correctly. In one simplified form of PI, after each step, they are presented with a question to test their comprehension, then are immediately shown the correct answer or given additional information. However the objective of the instructional programming is to present the material in very small increments. The more sophisticated forms of programmed instruction may have the questions or tasks programmed well enough that the presentation and test model—an extropolation from traditional and classical instruction—is not necessarily utilized.
, who invented programmed learning for use in teaching in schools. The difference between programmed instruction (PI) and programmed learning
(PL) is that PI is intended to modify behavior, whereas PL is used for teaching facts and skills.
, was another idea for how to incorporate programmed learning into the classroom.
's taxonomy to teach college students. Some have argued that there is a resurgence of research on programmed instruction due to use of computers and the internet.
Programmed instruction
It typically consists of self-teaching with the aid of a specialized textbook or teaching machineInstructional technology
In education, instructional technology is "the theory and practice ofdesign, development, utilization, management, and evaluation of processes and resources for learning," according to the Association for Educational Communications and Technology Definitions and Terminology Committee...
that presents material structured in a logical and empirically developed sequence or sequences. Programmed instruction may be presented by a teacher as well, and it has been argued that the principles of programmed instruction can improve classic lectures and textbooks. Programmed instruction allows students to progress through a unit of study at their own rate, checking their own answers and advancing only after answering correctly. In one simplified form of PI, after each step, they are presented with a question to test their comprehension, then are immediately shown the correct answer or given additional information. However the objective of the instructional programming is to present the material in very small increments. The more sophisticated forms of programmed instruction may have the questions or tasks programmed well enough that the presentation and test model—an extropolation from traditional and classical instruction—is not necessarily utilized.
Programmed learning
This idea was later adapted by Robert M. GagnéRobert M. Gagné
Robert Mills Gagné was an American educational psychologist best known for his "Conditions of Learning". Gagné pioneered the science of instruction during WWII for the air force with pilot training...
, who invented programmed learning for use in teaching in schools. The difference between programmed instruction (PI) and programmed learning
Programmed learning
Programmed Learning or Programmed Instruction is a learning methodology or technique first proposed by the behaviorist B. F. Skinner in 1958. According to Skinner, the purpose of programmed learning is to "manage human learning under controlled conditions"...
(PL) is that PI is intended to modify behavior, whereas PL is used for teaching facts and skills.
Personalized System of Instruction
Personalized System of Instruction or (PSI), developed by Fred S. KellerFred S. Keller
Fred Simmons Keller was a pioneer in experimental psychology. He taught at Columbia University for 26 years and gave his name to the Keller Plan, also known as Personalized System of Instruction an individually paced, mastery-oriented teaching method that has had a significant impact on...
, was another idea for how to incorporate programmed learning into the classroom.
Errorless discrimination
Programmed instruction resulted from early efforts to implement Skinner's basic research findings on learning at Harvard that led to "errorless discrimination" techniques being developed. Programmed instruction had some early success in aphasia rehabilitation.Programmed instruction today
While not popular, programmed instruction continues to be used today. Recently, the application of programmed instruction principles was applied to training in computer programs and combined with Benjamin BloomBenjamin Bloom
Benjamin Samuel Bloom was an American educational psychologist who made contributions to the classification of educational objectives and to the theory of mastery-learning...
's taxonomy to teach college students. Some have argued that there is a resurgence of research on programmed instruction due to use of computers and the internet.