Language
Country/Area
No result found
The future of learning: How programmed instruction is revolutionizing education?
Throughout the history of education, programmed instruction (or programmed instruction), as a research-based system, has profoundly influenced the way learning is done. This approach is guided by the research of several applied psychologists and educational scholars and aims to help learners achieve greater success in the learning process. Materials for programmed instruction are usually presented in the form of textbooks, teaching machines, or computer software, in which the content is carefully designed and arranged in a logical order.
Learning content is presented in small steps or larger chunks. After each step, learners are faced with questions to test their understanding and are then given the correct answer, which means that at each stage of learning, learners have Knowledge that enables responses and immediate results.
As early as 1912, Edward L. Thorndike envisioned the potential of programmed learning. He once remarked that if there were a mechanical marvel that would cause a book to display the second page only after the instructions on the first page had been completed, then much of what currently requires personal instruction could be accomplished through printing. Although Thorndike did not develop the concept, in 1926 Sidney L. Pressey built the first teaching machine that demonstrated the ability to actually teach.
The development of programmed learning
With the onset of World War II, the emphasis on training increased significantly due to the predominantly conscripted military. What was learned after the war influenced education and training, and one of the main methods was to use images as a tool for group training. Research into the effectiveness of training films has since flourished, and while films excel at providing an overview of a situation, they are weak at presenting details.
In 1946, Yale University conducted an experiment in which questions were inserted into video clips and the correct answers were provided after students responded. The results significantly improved students' learning outcomes from the videos.
This experiment shows that active responses from learners and immediate feedback on activities are key elements in any successful learning system. Pressey's research has once again attracted attention, and the concept of programmed learning has gradually become the focus of the education community.
The connotation of programmed learning
So what does programmed learning add? In short, it's called "stimulus control," which refers to the instructional material itself. In addition, programmed learning proposes a complete system, including setting objective and quantifiable course goals and conducting pre-tests and post-tests to ensure learning effectiveness. The teaching materials need to be revised according to the experimental results and arranged according to the predetermined plan.
Main programmed learning system
Although several other systems have been proposed, this article will focus on the two best-known approaches. The first was Norman Crowder, a psychologist in the US Air Force, whose system used multiple-choice questions from a text and provided feedback for each option. Claude called this "intrinsic programming", also known as "branching programming". On the other hand, programming is better known from behaviorist B.F. Skinner, who criticized the inadequacy of traditional teaching methods and constructed a "reinforcement schedule" based on behaviorist theory.
Skinner once issued an inspiring statement calling on the education community to accept sweeping revisions in educational practices, claiming we are on the threshold of an exciting revolution in learning.
Both approaches focus on the needs of individual learners, allow learners to work at their own pace, and adequately test the content to identify problem areas, each emphasizing clear learning objectives.
The subsequent impact of programmed learning
These concepts were later applied to other educational fields, such as open learning and computer-assisted learning. The principles of programmed instruction also influenced the Children's Television Workshop, helping to develop Sesame Street. Additionally, shows like Blue’s Clues have been tested three times per episode, showing that repeated viewings can improve attention and comprehension in young viewers.
Learning or training?
The principles and methods of "programmed learning" and "programmed training" are almost the same. When the target audience is industry or military personnel, the name "programmed training" is often used, while for schools and colleges, "programmed learning" is often used.
Whatever the name, these approaches have successfully applied concepts to a variety of educational topics, with correspondingly positive results.
As programmed learning becomes more prevalent, many educators and researchers are still exploring how to maximize its potential in various fields, and these methods are constantly evolving with the help of new technologies. We can't help but wonder, how will future education be reimagined to adapt to the ever-changing world?
