Baldwin, J. D., & Baldwin, J. I. (1999).
The value of everyday examples in the teaching of learning: A comment prompted by Machado and Silva (1998).
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior,
72, 269-272.
Why are so few psychology students and professors interested in
the study of learning? Part of the answer lies in the techniques
we use for teaching behavioral psychology and communicating its
relevance to numerous aspects of life. We add to this journal's
discussion of the teaching of learning by explaining the
importance of using examples drawn from everyday life: Numerous
familiar examples provide powerful pedagogical tools for showing
the importance of learning theory and helping students learn
behavior principles. This approach does not exclude using other
strategies and techniques in our quest to communicate the value
of learning theory and teach our behavioral science in meaningful
and thought-provoking ways.
Key words: teaching, learning, behavior, psychology, behaviorism,
everyday life