How can teachers reinforce good behavior in their classrooms without giving out artificial reinforcers such as candy? They can do this by using a type of conditioning called positive reinforcement which can increase positive behaviors in their classroom. In Human Learning, Omrod writes about how B.F Skinner suggests that “to foster on-task behavior and academic achievement, teachers resort to artificial reinforcers (e.g. praise, grades, stickers, free time)- reinforcers that aren’t terribly effective because they’re awarded inconsistently and long after desired behaviors have occurred”(Omrod, pg. 79). I’ll admit that I have used “artificial reinforcers” in my classroom. I have given the students stickers at the beginning of the school year if they come in and write their homework in their assignment book at the start of class without me even asking. Even though Skinner considers this to be artificial, it is reinforcing the behavior of students who are showing me they are on-task and ready to begin class.
According to Omrod, “The sensible teacher will rely on social reinforcers, activities, feedback, and intrinsic reinforcers (e.g., feelings of success or accomplishment) instead of material reinforcers whenever possible”(Omrod, pg. 79). I have used activities such as going outside for class as positive reinforcement for being the class who brought in the most homework at the end of the term. I have given students feedback on their progress in my class to reinforce their hard work. I have also used intrinsic reinforcers such as helping students to feel proud of a major accomplishment on a project in my class. I wasn’t so sure about social reinforcers until I found the following quote from Kendra Cherry. In her article entitled, What is Social Reinforcement, she states, “Social reinforcement refers to reinforcers such as smiles, acceptance, praise, acclaim and attention from other people. In a famous study conducted in 1968, researchers looked at school-age children who spent little time studying. The children were then given praise and attention for their study efforts. The researchers found that children studied up to twice as much when given social reinforcement than they did before when they received no such reinforcement”(Cherry). I have used social reinforcement without even realizing it before. I frequently smile at the students, praise them for jobs well done, and give them attention if they are confused about a topic. However, I have never thought of praising students who might not have spent much time studying. I would like to try this form of social reinforcement to see if it improves the study habits of my students. The social reinforcement coming from me as their teacher will hopefully lead to intrinsic reinforcers such as feelings of success and accomplishment like Omrod suggests.
References:
Cherry, K. (2016). What is Social Reinforcement? Retrieved September 13, 2016, from
https://www.verywell.com/what-is-social-reinforcement-2795881
Ormrod, J. E. (2012). Human learning. New York, NY: Pearson.
