BF Skinner and the Teaching Machine

I've been studying about the history of instructional design and the history of technology in education. I came across this video about BF Skinner and the teaching machine. It is interesting because he wasn't an "educator" but rather a psychologist. Some of his ideas attack what many eduators value about teaching, especially the human, social aspects of teaching.



The Skinner video reminds me of some computer software I have seen and used before. I do agree with some of the methods of the "teaching machine" where it addresses differentiated instruction, provides students with small successes to reduce anxiety, builds confidence, and helps them learn, allowing them to work at their level and pace, providing Immediate and corrective feedback, providing tips/hints to questions, etc. I do like that it allows students to work at their own pace and move on only when they are ready. I also like the use of many small and sequential steps that build on previous steps and material. It’s not just “covering” required material but rather working to ensure mastery. While the concept is good, the machine itself has limitations.

The video listed quite a few advantages for using the "teaching machine" in the classroom and discussed how effective and efficient it was. One thing that stuck in the back of my mind while I watched it was this: How effective would the teaching machine really be if students are just making up answers and not putting forth any effort? They could still just insert answers, do the bare minimum, and not care and not learn anything by using the machine. Or what about students who try and don’t understand the material, no matter how much help or tips the machine is providing. Sometimes a human explanation is required and often has to be tailored to a specific student and his/her learning style or level. A machine would have no way of knowing this. Also, maybe students were enthusiastic about it at first, but once it becomes ubiquitous and used on a daily basis, that enthusiasm could soon die down and become drudgery just like reading a textbook. How would they hold the attention of students for a sustained period of time, especially students with attention deficit disorder? It just looks like a “modern” version of worksheets and busywork to me.

Another flaw with using the "teaching machines" (and this is true even with modern software) is I don’t see evidence of critical thinking skills being used. Would these machines only be using during very early stages of instruction? Could their use include higher order thinking skills? If so, how would the machine measure it?  I think it would be a good tool to use at times but it shouldn't replace the classroom teacher. Furthermore, the idea of 21st century education is not to spoon feed learners but rather have them discover and utilize information, construct ideas, think conceptually and creatively, work collaboratively, and utilize higher order thinking skills. The teaching machine in this video does not address 21st century education and if computers and “teaching machines” were to be used, developors should incorporate these things.

Each class and student is different. How would the machine know to address that unless it is a modern version that tests students in multiple intelligences, left brain/right brain uses and preferences, knowledge level, talent/special skills/interests, motivation, etc. and can create a more sophisticated and customized instructional plan. I should hope teachers would be the ones helping to create these programs for teaching machines rather than just a programmer or “engineer”.

If we were to resort to some sort of teaching machine, then what is the point of having a brick and mortar school? Why not let students work from home and then get together periodically for organized class projects or field trip, unless of course the field trip is virtual and the groups meet online? In that case, what is the difference between that and homeschooling? Will schools keep their doors open as a free "baby-sitting" service while parents are at work, unless of course they no longer have to spend the whole day at the office since their boss lets them work from home? Will students' socialization mainly be from family and online interaction? Will we all turn into hermits in the real world?

It really makes me sad that the human element and interaction is missing in the teaching machine and even not recognized as being important. Why can’t we play on the strengths of teachers and of teaching machines and have the best of both worlds. We should capitalize on what both can do the best and most efficiently.