Five principles of programmed learning

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7. Behaviorism: Vicarious reinforcement and teaching machines

◆Five principles of programmed learning◆

Researchers of programmed learning formulated five principles shown below in Table 6-1. According to behaviorist psychology, a learning effect is considered to be measured by the number of responses a learner makes under arranged conditions. Feedback should be given to correct responses in order to "reinforce" such response, and it was thought that such a process would require individual learning. Researchers' conclusions above are expressed in principles 1-4 of the table below. I think the last principle; "Learner verification" is the most valuable contribution that behaviorist psychology has made to the pedagogy in terms of valuing an empirical approach. Such a standpoint is inherited in "Formative Evaluation" or "Feedback and Improvement" in an ID process.

Table 6-1: Five principles of programmed learning

Principles	Explanation
Active learner response	To what extent a learner can understand is judged by making him/her answer questions. The extent of a learner's understanding is ascertained from what is demonstrated in the responses.
Immediate feedback	Let a learner know whether his/her answer is correct or incorrect immediately. Give the learner the subsequent question after he/she knows whether his/her response is right or wrong
Small steps	Set small steps in order to prevent a learner from stumbling as much as possible. When he/she makes a mistake, there is the risk of being labeled a failure.
Self pacing	Let the learner decide the speed of learning so that he/she can learn at his/her own pace. Consider that an appropriate speed varies from learner to learner.
Learner verification	Whether the program is good or bad is judged not based on a specialists' opinions, but whether learning is actually established or not. To that end, get learners who have yet to learn the subject matter to try the program under development. Based on the trials, improve the material as necessary.

Note: Based on H. Azuma, et al., (Eds.) (1979) New Dictionary of Education, p.720
Source: Suzuki, K. (2004) Detailed Instructional Design: e-Learning Fundamentals. E-Learning Consortium (Packaged text) Chapter 4