Developing Problem Solving Skills In Children: Methods And Practices Essay.

Behaviorism Theory and Learning Numeracy

Discuss About The Develop In Children The Ability To Tackle Problems?

It is crucial to develop in children the ability to tackle problems with initiative and confidence. Children develop their confidence from the environment especially that which is found in the educational institutions. The development of the ability to solve numeracy is among the most desired life skills in the world today. The focus of most learning institutions has been to equip children and the younger generation with this essential skills. This move is meant to address the various concerns about how the young generation gains knowledge on education and the numeracy skills (NN, 2017). These numeracy skills would be essential for their achievement of fully rewarding and sustaining lives. Moreover, it would enhance their active participation in the daily life activities. It is a fact that most professionals in the education system care about the acquisition of these skills by the youths. Several efforts have focussed on how best these skills could be improved. Normally, public opinion has been sorted out so as to get a glimpse of what is popularly accepted as the best possible way of gaining knowledge in education and numeracy. All these foci are to ensure the young people acquire new behaviors from their interaction with the environment thus developing confidence and creative skills.  (Monk, 2014).

The behaviorism theory is one of the best explanation on how the children can acquire educational and numeracy skills that are essential for the growth and development of problem-solving skills (Skinner, 2017). This theory is mainly focused on the external events that enhance learning. Education programs are pursued in classical conditions according to this theory. A better understanding of the mathematical perspective and the numeracy skills are dependent upon external stimulus (Watson, 2013). For instance, in situations where learning of mathematics is a teacher centered environment, there are high chances that the students will only get the procedure and not the concepts. It is a fact that concepts are the basics if a better understanding of the mathematics and numeracy skills is to be realized (LTHEORIES, 2017). So much focus on the teacher puts students off from grasping the concepts. In the hearts of the students in this kind of a learning environment is embedded the belief that the teachers know it all and so they need not think. In a layman's language, this is described as spoon feeding. This behavior causes dependence such that the children only depend on the tutor. Blocking the thoughts of the students by creating a virtually dependent learning environment of this kind is the greatest enemy of acquiring numeracy skills. The best ways to understand and solve numeracy challenges is by knowing and understanding the concepts. This kind of environment would discourage students from understanding concepts thus discouraging learning of the numeracy and mathematical skills (Anghileri, 2006).

Creating a Conducive Numeracy Learning Environment

The above-mentioned challenge can be overcome by creating a suitable environment at the beginning of learning. A better understanding of numeracy is anchored so much on the environmental conditions or a rather external stimulus of the learners (Pavlov & Anrep, 2003). Teachers must always understand and apply this concept whenever they engage the students in learning forum. The first essential step to better acquisition of the numeracy skills is the employment of direct communication with the students. The teacher must ensure that they communicate directly and clearly to the learners. Sometimes they should explain concepts and engage them by asking rhetorical questions so as to ensure they are always attentive. This helps to create an environment which focussed only on the numeracy skills being learned (Pavlov & Anrep, 2003). Moreover, this would discourage to a greater extent a lacking in the classroom that might create a boring classroom condition. This kind of environment would make most students be disengaged thus they would not be able to acquire all the necessary (Anghileri, 2006).

The behaviorism, though useful, sometimes fail to cater for the learning need of every student. The truth is that each student has their best means of understanding the numeracy skills. Some understand on the first time a teacher explains to them in the classroom (BEHAVIORISM, 2011). Other students, however, would need further explanation with follow up discussions and assignment so as to best grasp the concepts; constant involvement of some of the students in the learning of the numeracy skills and mathematical concepts. The process of encouraging the students to be involved in checking and revising their assignments and class work frequently. The advantage of this is the cultivation of a behavior that is useful for constant learning and understanding of the numerical lessons. This strategy is useful for taking care of every learner (Prigg, 2011).

The ability of the tutors to give guidance to the students during the lessons is critical to grasping of the numerical concepts (Phillips & Jonas, 2012). This guidance is meant to prompt the students' ideas and to have them air out their opinions about what they are learning in the classroom. It is well known that when someone discusses what they are studying, they would be able to understand and remember more as compared to when they just listen to the tutor. This is the reason why the behaviorism teaching theory insists on the environment created for the learners. The more conducive the learning environment the more it is easier for them to grasp the numerical concepts.

Stepwise Approach to Learning Numeracy and Math Concepts

According to Skinner the founder of behaviorism theory, learner of the numeracy and mathematical concepts require a well-developed stepwise approach. The stepwise approach must be in a linear direction. To put this into perspective, learning approach starts from the easiest numerical concepts as it progresses to more complex concepts (Watson, Behaviorist Learning Theory, 2017). This method of learning greatly promotes learning and understanding of mathematics. This kind of programs should be rolled out to all educational programs. The stepwise programs are similar to the way children learn how to walk. In other words, I would describe it as the baby step learning method (Anghileri, 2006).

Furthermore, the focus of the theory is on the individualized learning. That is to mean, every student irrespective of their learning abilities must be taken care of in the learning environment. This kind of an environment will promote a development of the numerical skills in children irrespective of their learning capabilities. It is useful for upbringing the children to develop numerical skills. The skills have been realized to be useful in the society. The truth is, no skills in life is used as it is required for everyday activity. Even the noblest of the peasant in the society would need to do a few mathematical concepts even in their daily purchase of the grocery (Anghileri, 2006). The learning periods are beefed up with discussions so as to promote the children communication skills and the ability to think beyond the box.

It is a fact that mathematics is a serious subject. However, learning mathematics should never be a serious matter. A tense environment scares learners; thus instilling fear in the minds of the learners (Phillips & Jonas, 2012). A good learning environment would promote not only learning but also make the children love mathematical concepts. The reality is that when the students love what they do they would easily apply the skills in the real world. The application of the concepts is the basic concept of learning them. If learning was not for the purpose of application then it would make no sense why people would invest a lot of money and time in acquiring knowledge. Having a fun filled environment with friendly teachers is the greatest key to easier and quickest learner of the numeracy skills.

Behaviourism theory is way better than other theories such as constructivism because of its strength of promoting whole students learning thus equal development of problem-solving skills among the children. The constructivism theory simply involves direct communication of the concepts to the learners without hearing from their side. This lack of sharing of ideas during learning transforms the children to be like machines who can simply cram procedures even if they do not understand them. Moreover, that calm friendly learning condition is destroyed thus creating a survival to be the best kind of an environment which make others quit from tackling numeracy problems. Such children will in future lack problem-solving skills while dealing with real life issues.

Importance of Individualized Learning and Promotion of Communication Skills

Mathematics teaching has left behind rehearsals mathematics because it makes learning seem like a competition thus scaring some of the learners. A competitive environment would not only make the learning environment tense but also would scare the slow learners who may be in the class (NN, 2017). As mentioned earlier, this theory focuses on the promotion of the numeracy skills in every child and not the bright ones only. If a competitive environment is created, the learning abilities of all the children would not be promoted thus the lack of wholesome growth and development of the younger generation in the society in the field of numeracy and education as a whole (Anghileri, 2006).

In conclusion, the development of the numeracy concepts is essential in any society. These skills are best learned when they are instilled in the children in their early stages of development. This is to mean that educational programs should focus more on having people develop a passion for these skills when they are still young. A stepwise learning skill that identifies every good deed by the learners is very beneficial towards the promotion of these skills (Phillips & Jonas, 2012). The theory of behaviorism in education is the best theory that could be applied in making the children better understand the numeracy skills.  This theory finds an advantage over other theories because of its concentration on every student's detailed learning and not just passing information to the children.  The educational systems of the world would be able to make great advancements when they succeed in promoting numeracy skills among the young generation by making mathematics become their passion rather than just another subject of study. Learning numeracy and mathematical skills have changed from careful rehearsal of standard procedures to a focus on the mathematical thinking and communication to prepare the children for the real world of tomorrow (Anghileri, 2006, p.2).

References

Anghileri, J. (2006). Children’s mathematical thinking in the primary years perspectives on children’s learning (Repr. 2006. Ed.) London: Continuum.

BEHAVIORISM. (2011). April: https://www.funderstanding.com/theory/behaviorism/.

LTHEORIES. (2017, August). BEHAVIORISM. Retrieved from Learning Theories: https://www.learning-theories.com/behaviorism.html

Monk, H. (2014, October 1). 'Enforcing good behaviour is fundamental to education'. Retrieved from The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationopinion/11132924/Enforcing-good-behaviour-is-fundamental-to-education.html

(2017, July). Why is numeracy important? Retrieved from National Numeracy: https://www.nationalnumeracy.org.uk/why-numeracy-important

Pavlov, I., & Anrep, G. (2003). Conditioned reflexes. Courier Corporation.

Phillips, C., & Jonas, F. (2012). Perspectives on Learning. In C. Phillips, & F. Jonas, Perspectives on Learning (p. Ch 3). Teachers College Press.

Prigg, (2014). Can women do math? New study find sexes believe men are better: A journal of mathematics.

Skinner, B. (2017). About behaviorism. Vintage.

Watson, J. (2013). Behaviorism. Read Books Lts.

Watson, J. (2017, August). Behaviorist Learning Theory. Retrieved from Innovative Learning: https://www.innovativelearning.com/teaching/behaviorism.html