Program and Computer-Assisted Instruction

In 1954, Skinner developed a technique known as programmed instruction (PI). He developed a "teaching machine" displayed in the video above. As technology progressed, programmed instructions were carried over to programmed textbooks and eventually computer-assisted instructions. There are several components of programmed instruction that are based on the theories of operant conditioning, including:

• Active responding- The student has to make a response on each frame.
• Shaping-  The students complete the whole lesson in steps. The program begins with information the student knows. The new information is then broken into segments and these segments become increasingly more difficult as the lesson continues. This shapes the terminal behavior.
• Immediate reinforcement- Students usually always get the correct response due to the shaping. Each response is reinforced immediately through feedback.
• Individual differences in learning rate- Programs are self-paced, so students are able to go at their own speed.