Programmed learning facts for kids

Programmed learning is a special way of learning that helps students succeed. It's also called 'programmed instruction'. This method is based on ideas from many smart people who study how we learn.

You learn using books, special machines, or computers. The information is given to you step-by-step in a clear order. You get small bits of information, then a question to check if you understood. Right away, you see the correct answer. This way, you always know how you're doing and learn as you go.

Back in 1912, Edward Thorndike had a cool idea. He imagined a "magic book" where you could only see the next page if you had completed the task on the first page. He thought this could help people learn without needing a teacher all the time.

However, Thorndike didn't build anything like that. The first real system was made by Sidney L. Pressey in 1926. His "teaching machine" was first meant to score tests. But it soon showed it could actually teach people things too!

How Learning Methods Evolved

During World War II, many people joined the army. There was a big need to train them quickly. What was learned then helped shape education after the war. One main way of training was using movies for groups. Many studies looked at how well these training films worked.

These studies showed some important things. Films were great at giving a general idea of a situation. But they weren't as good at teaching small details. Films also move at their own speed, and viewers don't have to do anything specific. Plus, the audience can be very different from person to person. This gave clues on how to make learning films better.

In 1946, a test at Yale University tried something new. They put questions for students between parts of a film about the heart and blood flow. Students answered, and then they saw the correct answers right away. This helped students learn much more from the film. It was even better than just watching the film twice!

These results were very similar to Pressey's ideas. It became clear that when learners actively respond and get helpful feedback, it makes a big difference. Pressey's work, which had been almost forgotten, was now seen as very important.

What is Programmed Learning?

If so much research had already been done on learning from films, what did programmed learning add? It added "stimulus control." This means the teaching material itself is carefully designed. Programmed learning also suggested a complete system with these steps:

• The goals of the course are clear and can be measured.
• A test is given before starting, or your starting skills are noted.
• A test is given after you finish.
• The learning materials are tested and improved based on results.
• The materials are built following a specific plan.
• The information is arranged in proper steps.
• You have to actively respond (even if it's just thinking).
• You get feedback to confirm your answers.
• The way you learn (like a book or computer) fits the topic and you.
• You learn at your own speed, or the material is presented in a way that suits you.

Two Main Systems of Programmed Learning

There were a few different systems, but two became the most famous.

One system was created by Norman Crowder. He was a psychologist with the United States Air Force. He was asked to study how to train aircraft repairmen. Crowder's system used multiple-choice questions in the text. It gave feedback for each answer choice. The wrong answers were often chosen to match common mistakes students might make.

The other, even more famous, system came from the behaviorist scientist B. F. Skinner. Skinner strongly criticized traditional teaching methods. His programmed learning plan presented material as a "schedule of reinforcement." This means you learn by getting positive feedback when you do something right. Skinner was very good at sharing his ideas. He once said that we are close to a time when studying how people learn will greatly help everyone. He believed education must change to make this happen.

Both Crowder's and Skinner's methods first used machines. Later, they were put into book form. Both systems focused on the individual learner. They let students work at their own speed. Both used feedback to help learning, though in different ways. The content in both systems was tested beforehand to fix any problems. Both also stressed having clear learning goals. Your progress was measured with tests before and after learning. Many real-world tests showed that these methods worked well.

Many of these ideas were later used in other areas of education. This includes open learning, like the Open University, and computer-assisted learning.

See also

In Spanish: Enseñanza programada para niños