Using Reinforcements and Punishments in Classroom
Hello, everyone!
As we already know, Behaviorism uses reinforcements and punishments to condition behavior, and we can apply it in a variety of setting, including in the learning process, the student's behavior needs to be conditioned, and by using these two tools, we can help the student's response.
We find an amazing website about Behaviorism, which explains not only about the theory, but also the advantages of using it in the classroom. This website also talks about punishment and reinforcement in schools, and how it is considered as a positive aspect to Behavior Support.
According to the website:
"In order to explain his theory of operant conditioning, Skinner defined two main terms: reinforcement and punishment. Reinforcement is simply defined as "the effect of a reinforcer"(Lefrancois, 2006). A reinforcer is "an event that follows a response and that changes the probability of a response's occurring again" (Lefrancois). Additionally, reinforcers are defined by observable and measureable behaviors. Reinforcement can then be broken down into positive and negative reinforcement. Positive reinforcement occurs "when the consequences of the behavior, when added to a situation after a response, increase the probability of the response's occurring again in similar conditions" (Lefrancois). An example of this would be a reward. Negative reinforcement on the other hand, occurs "when the probability of a response's occurring increases as a function of something being taken away from a situation" (Lefrancois). An example of this would be similar to the feeling of relief.Punishment is similar to reinforcement in that both are defined by its effects. The main difference between the two, however, is that the effect of punishment involves the suppression of a behavior rather that the strengthening of it as in reinforcement (Lefrancois, 2006). Punishment also has two types, positive and negative. Positive punishment is "when a positive contingency is removed"(Lefrancois). An example of this could be a penalty. It is also known as removal punishment. Negative punishment is "when a negative contingency follows a behavior" (Lefrancois). This is what most people commonly think of when they think of the term punishment and is sometimes referred to as presentation punishment. An example could be the spanking of a child after misbehaving."
I invite you to access the Skinner's Theory of Operant Conditioning as seen Through Positive Behavior Support for having for information about how to use reinforcements and punishments in the classroom.
We also have a tutorial from Athabasca University for you, guys! In this tutorial you will exercise the concept of positive reinforcement, and also to have an idea of the kind of self-instructional exercises used in many course at this university.
The tutorial is available on this page.
I am wainting for feedback, okay? I hope you enjoy it! See yah!
* If you have some problems with the links, please check the references.
REFERENCES
http://kristinhricko.weebly.com/reinforcement-and-punishment.html
https://fhss2.athabascau.ca/psyc/prtut/
