Which educational philosophy emphasizes motivations and the use of praise and rewards?

The educational philosophy that emphasizes motivations and the use of praise and rewards is behaviorism. This approach is rooted in the idea that learning is a result of observable behaviors and interactions with the environment. Behaviorists posit that positive reinforcement, such as praise and rewards, can effectively shape behaviors and motivate learners to engage with educational content.

In behaviorism, the focus is on the responses that behavior can elicit from learners, as well as the consequences of those responses. By using rewards to reinforce desired behaviors, educators can create a structured learning environment where students feel motivated to learn and succeed. Over time, through consistent reinforcement, students can develop new habits and knowledge without the need for intrinsic motivation, which can be especially useful in classroom settings.

While essentialism, humanism, and perennialism each have significant educational philosophies, they do not prioritize the use of external consequences such as praise and rewards in the same way behaviorism does. Essentialism focuses on a core curriculum and essential knowledge, humanism emphasizes personal growth and self-actualization, and perennialism advocates for enduring ideas and texts. Thus, behaviorism distinctly stands out as the philosophy that leverages motivation techniques like rewards to influence learning outcomes.