Learning Theories and Classroom Practices: Reward, Punishment and Motivation

Background

Learning theories are the philosophies of gaining knowledge and information. It is unanswered how to find out the best way of teaching and learning. People can learn from various ways in different stage in different situation. Life is journey of learning which itself shows the road how to walk properly. However, so many psychologists developed effective way of teaching and learning which directly and indirectly acceptable in classroom practices. School education system is highly affected by reward, punishment and motivation. These three are the controlling factors of school education too. Learning theories are the ways that student can gain the knowledge and how to retain information. 

Trial and Error

One of the groundbreaking psychologist Thorndike introduced 'Trial and Error' theory which is highly governed by reward and punishment system. It is very effective way for classroom practices yesterday, today and tomorrow. According to the theorist Thorndike's learning is only possible through trial and error. Successful variant affects very much in learning process. A learner can learn only through countless practices in his or her life. While the child enter to school, in the process of learning first alphabet they try to speak, try to write time and again after that she or he recognize the latter. So, trial and error theory also used in Mathematics and Science equally. One saying is here, practice makes a man perfect. It means nobody in the world is perfect. People learn everything through practices. People make so many mistakes while learning. They decrease the history then grapes the goal of learning. Therefore learning is process not product.

Reward for learning

In what senses reward would affect student's motivation is great concerning subject for school supervisor and teachers these days. Another big issue is what kind of activities can they implement to reward in class? To address these serious questions, a wise teacher always tries to make students happy not fearful. It is the good background for learning new lesion. The positive atmosphere motivate them successfully understanding.

Announcing with thanking words like handshake, smiling, telling good, very good, you are doing nice, it is better than yesterday, well-done, keep it up, you are absolutely nice, go ahead etc are all rewards in classroom teaching process. On the other hand giving prize, scholarship, money, gifts are another process of reward.

According to Throndike rewards are the stimulus for response. A teacher should not be greedy to response such thankful words. These words increase student to go ahead. If teacher want to improve his teaching profession she should love students from inner heart. And give rewards in each and every small success.

Punishment

Teacher can decrease unwanted activities of students through punishment. Even though, new technology of teaching style suggests punishments are harmful in classroom teaching. Psychologist mainly Throndike highlighted that punishments are necessary in teaching learning process. It is controlling factor of classroom. Teacher can make students well-disciplined through punishment. To make students more obedient and polite, punishment is very important in teaching learning process. It is the best way of behavior shaping.

Some positive effects of Punishment Classroom practices

·        To avoid unnecessary behavior of students.

·        To make classroom environment readable.

·        To keep control in classroom.

·        It helps to develop classroom as classroom.

·        It leads students for being self-motivated.

·        It makes the school staff more punctual for their works.

·        It is the way to do work in effectively.

           Some Negative Effects of Punishment in Classroom Practices

·        It may be cause of halo effects.

·        Some students may take negatively and react the teacher badly.

·        Some time beating, scolding may harm student badly.

·        Some students could not understand and overlook teacher as enemy.

·        Some student may suicide because of teacher's uneasy voices.

·        It makes the classroom environment fearful.

Motivation

Motivation is the force and drive which appears and comes from the inner core of a person to achieve or possess the thing, situation or atmosphere. Motivation in classroom practices means teacher should encourage student from educational setting. There are two main sources of motivation first is intrinsic motivation. Humanistic theorist Carl Rogers highlighted the factor of intrinsic motivation which is on personal interest. It is related to that condition or situation in which the person is guided by the heart who is ready to study in the classroom is internal motivation. The person who is internally motivated can always become active himself for the work. Whatever the task is available the student becomes ready enthusiastically.

External motivation means someone another person, other physical items or environment attracts the person for studying. It is called less effective than first one. Externally motivated person is highly affected by reward and punishment. It is not as much creative as internal motivation. To develop the motivation externally, teacher should use a lot of teaching materials. Video, projector, listening practices, chart paper, pictures as well as practice book are recommended to use.

Counseling and Guidance

Counseling is specific idea and principle to motivate students. Teacher as a counselor can unconditionally support students. It is popularly said for teacher that she should give her time for student who is not motivated for the study. The teacher should ask for or consult the actual family situation, personal problem before she suggests the student for the study. It is like personal taking care of students in which teacher should behave as friendly as she can.

Guidance helps students avoiding wrong behavior. It is the responsibility of every teacher in the school. A teacher or principal can guide so many students at once. Students are guided by teachers may be in large group or small group. Counseling and guidance are external form of motivation.

Ways of Fostering Intricacy motivation in Classroom

Autonomy and freedom

In the classroom teaching, teacher should leave the students freely not more controlling environment. They can perceive the lesion as they make readiness to receive themselves.

Real Information

Teacher should tell the students progressive report time and again so that they acknowledged the real situation themselves. It is the pull and push factor of motivation.

Goal and Objectives

Teacher should previously tell the students about the goal and objectives of teaching very lesson. Goal and objective must to clear at first so that students will became readiness in classroom study.

Intrinsically motivated students know the merit of own and they know the value of time so that they are easy learners in the classroom. On the other hand, students guided by external motivation expect rewards.

 Utilization of Lesion Plan

Every teacher should have pervious plan before entering the classroom. What to teach, how to teach, where to teach, when to teach all the answer should be there in lesson plan. The detail plan gives the teacher the way of teaching. Therefore for estimating teaching materials and teaching activities, lesson plan will be helpful for every teacher. However, teacher may have long experience she can use it to create teaching environment more interesting. New teaching materials i.e. pictures, charts, vocabulary chart, some short story, drama make students more curious in their study.

 Conclusion

School education is one of the compulsory educations all over the world. Every child in the world go to school to build their bright future. School education is highly affected by reward, punishment and motivation. Pointed three factors are equally important to improve classroom atmosphere. The teacher is became the best teacher who can acknowledge the students from internally and externally. The teacher is facilitator to can support students in the classroom effectively. Preparing for respectful environment, equal opportunity, managing rewards and punishment are motivating factor of school education. Teaching is not easy job. It is complicated itself. Teacher should be accountable with both parents and school administration. If someone wants to become successful teacher he or she should have different qualities than other normal job holder.

Ms. Kafle, (Master of Education, TU & Master of English, MU)

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References
Timilsena (2023) Teaching Platform for the University Students
Learning Theories and Classroom Practices
An Analysis of the Role of Rewards and Punishment