Behaviorism Instructional Strategies

This weeks' reading of Pitler's "Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works", the theory of BF Skinner's Behaviorist Model was exemplified through the explanation of the primary function of homework and technological software programs as being reinforcements to what the teacher has modeled. For example, teachers created spreadsheets for students to account for the own individual efforts in their studies and thus their correlating grade. From using this spreadsheet self evaluation tool the idea that the more effort is put into their studies the higher of a grade can be expected (Pitler, 2007). Another example of technological instructional strategies correlating to the behaviorist ideals of Skinner was with the use of computer software such as academic games to reinforce student retention of ideas. If, for example, a class was studying the inverse relationships between multiplication and division number stories, students could use software to access games that support that particular learning objective. This type of strategy is used to create multiple encounters with the objective to "deepen" students understanding of that material. However, is this game of drill and practice only a means of memorization and base level comprehension? Or does this promote the building of a solid foundation to scaffold to higher order thinking skills?