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Behavioral Views of Learning
• Learning – A relatively permanent change in behavior,
feelings or knowledge that occurs as a result of experience
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Contrasting Three Theories of Learning
• Behavioral – Environment/behavior
– Changes in the environment will result in changes in
behavior
• Cognitive – Individual plays a key role
– Interpretation of stimuli in the environment may vary by
individual
• Sociocultural – Environment/behavior
– Influence of environment on behavior of individuals that
includes history of practice and expertise in the community
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Principles of Behavioral Learning Theory
Classroom management
Can help teachers address students’ misbehavior and
social skill deficits
Promoting appropriate behaviors
Social or motor skills
Self-regulation
Discouraging inappropriate behaviors
Behavioural of Learning
Theory
(Neutral
stimulus)
How does classical conditioning work in
classroom?
Before conditioning
Please be quite!
During conditioning
Please be quite!
After conditioning
HOW DOES CLASSICAL CONDITIONING WORK IN
CLASSROOM?
Before conditioning UCR
UCS
Please be quite!
NS No Response
Please be quite!
After conditioning CS CR
Classical Conditioning in the Classroom
• Aversive stimuli
– Stimuli that produce negative emotional response
• Extinction
– Phase of dying of conditioned stimulus
• Spontaneous recovery
– Phase of regaining back the previously conditioned
response
Generalization and Discrimination
• Generalization:
– Tendency for a new stimulus that is similar to the original
stimulus to produce a similar response.
– E.g.: Every time hears a teacher claps 3 times, will stop
talking and keep silent (originally conditioned for one time
clap)
• Discrimination
– Individuals respond to certain stimuli but not to others.
– E.g.: Even though hears 3 times claps, students will stop
talking and keep silent only when Teacher A does it, not
Teacher B, C or D
– E.g.: Only stop talking when hear 3 times claps, not once or
twice or more than 3 times
Operant Learning
(Thorndike & Skinner)
• Actions by a learner, the consequences of which influence
further behavior
• Operants means deliberate actions to “operate” on the
environment to change it in a certain way
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Reinforcement vs. Punishment
• Reinforcement
– Process of applying reinforcers with the aim to
increase desired/desirable behaviour
Strengthen/
Behaviour Reinforcer repeated
behaviour
• Punishment
– Process of applying reinforcers with the aim to
decreased undesirable behaviour
Behaviour Punisher Weaken/
decreased
behaviour
Reinforcers vs Punishers
– Reinforcers – Cause a behavior to become more frequent
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Reinforcement
• Reinforcer
– Positive reinforcer – An environmental event that, when
given, increases the frequency of a behavior
– Negative reinforcer – Any environmental event that, when
removed, increases the frequency of a behavior
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Positive Reinforcement
Occurs when stimulus is presented after a
behavior and the behavior increases as a result
A desirable behavior is displayed.
The reinforcer is temporally contiguous/
connected to the behavior.
The reinforcer is contingent on the behavior.
The reinforcer is a desirable consequence.
Classroom Example
1. Students make an overt response for a teacher to consider
reinforcing such response.
E.g. Student submits a worksheet on time
removal
Removing an aversive consequence/stimulus when the desirable behavior is displayed.
Examples:
Making a final exam optional for students who achieve an average score of 80%
or higher on all other tests
Dropping students’ lowest grade when they submit all classroom assignments on
time
Removing a stare at a student after he or she starts working at an assignment.
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Punisher
• Punisher – A consequence of behavior that weakens
or decreases behavior
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Side Effects of Punishment
• Punishment teaches aggression.
• Punishment produces negative emotions.
• Punishment undermines the quality of the
interpersonal relationship.
• Punishment often exacerbates misbehavior.
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Ways to Promote Good Behavior
• Cue students when they display inappropriate
behaviors
• Explain why certain behaviors are not
acceptable
• Avoid the negative effect of punishment
• Get help from others (counsellor)
• Do not assume that typical reinforcers or
punishers will have the intended effect on all
students
Diversity and Behaviorism
All students respond to reinforcers
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Preventing Behavioral Escalations
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QUIZ 2