Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Conditioning Theories - Positive and Negative Reinforcement

Chapter 2 Conditioning Theories talks about Positive and Negative Reinforcement. As you read further it cites an example of the use of punishment and how it does not teach how to behave more productively and can actually hinder learning. I am curious of anyone’s opinions or if anyone has any stories that can be shared on this subject matter.

6 comments:

  1. Elizabeth many years ago I applied to one of our local school districts to become a substitute teacher. When I was hired, we were required to take a training before starting. One thing which stood out to me at the training was when they explained how children learn. For example lets imagine we are trying to teach the child how to spell the word "channel". We go over it several times and each time the child gets it wrong. As each time passes we begin to loose our patience. As that occurs the child begins to get nervous. That nervousness keeps the child from being able to learn. I thought that was very interesting because as a mother I remember many times I would get a little ansy when my kids couldnt learn something right away and at the time not realizing that if they saw I was losing my patience it was preventing them even further the ability to learn. I guess you can say that is very similar to positive and negative reinforcement.

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  2. I've learned over the years that, with high school students, they know when you are applying positive and negative reinforcement and many feel that this is a game to be played. "I do this, she'll say that, we'll talk and then I'll give her what she wants".
    The past few years I've changed my direction when directing students. I try to make sure my interaction with students is always in a positive direction. It took months, but it is now a habit. My students know that when they need to be corrected, whether classwork or behavior, that they will have to answer a lot of questions. The biggest question is "What can be done to make this better?". The second question I ask most often is "What is the next step?". Third is "What do you need from me that will make this process better?". I MUST be sure to follow up on that third question. In essence, I still use positive and negative reinforcement, but the students are in control of which type they receive. Interacting with me to solve a challenge gets positive results, not interacting produces the same results.

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  3. Sheri - thank you for your comment. I completely agree with you. I think also involving the student in the process works very well.

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  4. As a high school educator, unfortunately I witness many educators that use negative reinforcement more than anything else, but it seems to be most often with students that are considered “trouble makers”. These teachers are strict, punish often and almost seem to pick on certain students. I learned from own experiences and from teaching several different grade levels that this form of teaching doesn’t really work anymore. One of the things that I always try to do is make a connection with my students where they know that I care about them and want only the best for them. They know I believe in them and will be supportive but they also have rules in my class. These rules are not negative nor are outlandish. They provide the students with consistency and a routine. The procedures or rules they follow in my class become second nature to them and I don’t have to punish many students. Even the “trouble maker” students seem to thrive in my class. I have learned that is because: I communicate with them like they are adults, I positively support them in all their endeavors, I show them that I care about them as my students and because I treat them with respect. My positive interaction with them creates a positive relationship with them and leads to positive behaviors.

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  5. Tony Stark: Is it better to be feared or respected? I say, is it too much to ask for both?

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  6. I have seen both positive and negative reinforcement being done in the classroom. One of the most recent acts was by a teacher who felt that if the kid didn't have enough common sense to remember to do something, that they should be yelled at and shunned. I have seen more kids shut down from negatively being reinforced, that I really do not feel that it is a good way to get kids or even adults to do something. Positive reinforcement has always struck me as a good way to teach. As my mother has always said that raising kids is like training a dog. When kids are reinforced with positive things, they tend to want to succeed and do better.

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