Transcript Instrumental Conditioning

A Behaviorist View of
Learning
Using Instrumental Conditioning
Presenters
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Dean Fenn
Melissa Rodhe
Jill Sooy
Purpose of In-service
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Provide professional development in behaviorist
views of learning
Provide practical techniques for working with
different situations
Establish greater emphasis on behavioral
objectives
Ongoing sessions
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To monitor implementation
Discuss practical ideas
Reason for the Change
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Our district believes behaviorist methods will
lead to better managed classrooms and overall
improvements in the education of our students
“The major problems of the world today
can be solved only if we improve our
understanding of human behavior”
(Skinner, 1974)
Instrumental Conditioning
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The behaviorist view called instrumental
conditioning is based on a theory that humans
and animals behave in ways that provide
pleasant consequences or avoid unpleasant
ones.
Edward Thorndike
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In 1898 Thorndike proposed a connection
between experience and the strengthening or
weakening of behavioral responses
Thorndike’s law of effect stated responses to a
situation that are followed by satisfaction are
strengthened and responses that are followed
by discomfort are weakened
B.F. Skinner’s
Operant Conditioning
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Based on Thorndike’s findings, Skinner’s theory
showed that organisms choose to respond to
situations in a way they believe will lead to a
desired stimulus or event
This desired stimulus or event is called a
reinforcer
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Use of Reinforcers
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Using reinforcement does work, however
undesirable behaviors can be reinforced as well
Misbehaviors may get teachers or classmates
attention when productive behavior does not
Teachers must be careful to not reinforce
behaviors they are trying to reduce
Punishment
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Punishment has been shown to be effective in
reducing inappropriate behaviors
Effective forms of punishment include
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Verbal reprimands
Restitution
Restitutional overcorrection
Punishment
Ineffective Forms of Punishment
• Physical: Experts agree that physical punishment for school age
children can lead to undesirable behaviors and is illegal in almost
every case
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Psychological: This form of punishment can damage the selfesteem and emotional well being of a student
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Extra Work
Missing Recess
Out of School Suspension
These have all been shown not to be effective in changing behavior
Criticisms of Reinforcement
and Punishment
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Reinforcement is bribery
Reinforcement leads to dependence on concrete
rewards
Punishment reduces self esteem
Reinforcing one student for being good
encourages others to be bad
Eliminating a problem behavior does not
eliminate underlying cause of behavior
Thinking about classroom
behaviors, would you like your
classroom to look like
or like this
Examples of Using Reinforcement
to Increase Desirable Behavior
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Setting up desired behaviors up front
Shaping complex behaviors
Learners gain more by changing behavior
Explicit response-consequence
contingencies
Reinforcers that are truly reinforcing
Strategies For Decreasing
Undesirable Behavior
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Noncontingent reinforcement
Reinforcing other incompatible behaviors
Appropriate forms of punishment
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Inform learners ahead of time what behaviors will be punished
Describe unacceptable behaviors in concrete terms
Explain why the behavior is unacceptable
Administer punishment right after behavior
Be consistent!
Teach and reinforce more appropriate behaviors
What’s in it for you?
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Because most behavior is learned according to the
principles of instrumental conditioning, learning theory
can help teachers figure out how to change behavior.
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If behavior can be learned, it can be unlearned as long
as the right steps are taken and the right reinforcements
or punishments are given.
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Student learning will increase due to more attention on
task and less on behavior issues.
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More productive and peaceful environment for all
Conclusion
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Try working these ideas into your classrooms
throughout the school
Further sessions for follow-up and more
discussion
“A failure is not always a mistake, it may simply be
the best one can do under the circumstances.
The real mistake is to stop trying.
(B.F. Skinner)