Noam Chomsky

Bio

• Born in Philadelphia in 1928
• BA, MA & PhD from University of Pennsylvania
• Taught courses and lectured at colleges and universities across the world
• Pioneer in the field of psycholinguistics

Theory

• Language Acquisition Theory
• All people are born with innate ability to learn language
• LAD - Language Acquisition Device
• Opposed popular behaviorist view of the 1950s
• Wrote scathing review of B.F. Skinner's Verbal Behavior

Beliefs

• Human behavior may also be innate
• Behavior is genetic disposition that grows based on environment
• Education should be about enlightenment, not indoctrination
• The purpose of education is to help people learn how to learn on their own

Classroom

• Behavior management used to teach self-regulation
• Students should be active participants in their own behavior management
• Build autonomy and personal freedom
• Foster meaningful relationships and mutual respect
• Provide justification, not just rules to follow

Chomsky, N. (1967). A review of B.F. Skinner's Verbal Behavior. Retrieved from http://www.chomsky.info/articles/1967----.htm


Chomsky, N. (2003). Chomsky on democracy and education. New York, NY: Routledge Falmer.

Chomsky, N. (2013). The purpose of education [video]. Retrieved from http://www.thedailyriff.com/articles/noam-chomsky-the-purpose-of-education-...

Noam Chomsky. (2001) Gale Encyclopedia of Psychology. Retrieved from http://www.chomsky.info/bios/2001----02.htm

Osiatynski, Wiktor (Interviewer) & Chomsky, Noam (Interviewee). (1984). On Language and Culture [Interview Transcript]. Retrieved from The Noam Chomsky website: http://www.chomsky.info/interviews/1984----.htm