Programmed learning is an individualized and systematic instructional strategy for classroom learning and self-learning. Since the 1960s, it has emerged as one of the most important innovations in the field of education. Programmed learning received its major impetus from B. F. Skinner and is based on his theory of operant conditioning, according to which learning is best accomplished in small, incremental steps with immediate reinforcement, or reward, for the learner. Therefore, the learning material is broken down into small chunks of information and is followed by a comprehension question to be answered by the learner, who receives immediate feedback with regard to the correctness of the answer. If the answer is correct, the learner may proceed to the next chunk; otherwise he or she must go back to the previous chunk and try it again. Thus, programmed learning is based on the principles of small steps, self-pacing, and immediate feedback.
Two types of programmed learning have become...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Köbberling, A. (1971). Effektiveres lehren durch programmierten unterricht? Beltz: Weinheim.
Kromrey, J. D., & Purdom, D. M. (1995). A comparison of lecture, cooperative learning and programmed instruction at the college level. Studies in Higher Education, 20(3), 341–349.
Kulik, C.-L. C., Schwalb, B. J., & Kulik, J. A. (1982). Programmed instruction in secondary education: A meta-analysis of evaluation findings. The Journal of Educational Research, 75(3), 133–138.
Kurbanoglu, N. I., Taskesenligil, Y., & Sozbilir, M. (2006). Programmed instruction revisited: A study on teaching stereochemistry. Chemistry Education Research and Practice, 7(1), 13–21.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
About this entry
Cite this entry
Seel, N. (2012). Programmed Learning. In: Seel, N.M. (eds) Encyclopedia of the Sciences of Learning. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1428-6_671
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1428-6_671
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4419-1427-9
Online ISBN: 978-1-4419-1428-6
eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and Law