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Define Instrumental Conditioning and Provide an Example
Instrumental conditioning refers to the method of behaviorism that refers to a response to
stimulus relationship. This is a voluntary response that occurs doing the course of the response to
stimulus method. An example could include Mark has been grounded for several two week
periods because he was sneaking out of the house to visit his friends.
Define Positive Reinforcement and Provide an Example (include punishment)
Positive reinforcement is a presentation of a stimulus after the response has occurred. Using the
ABC approach (as discussed in the introduction video) this includes an antecedent, behavior, and
a consequence. So in this example the antecedent is me turning the lights on and off to gain the
students attention that the class is about to begin. The behavior is the “cue” of the lights turning
on off that class is about to begin and the consequence can be both praise for settling down for
the class or verbally punishment for not quieting down for class. Punishment is broken down into
two types Punishment I and Punishment II. Punishment I involves the presentation of an aversion
stimuli (failing grades) and Punishment II involves the removal of stimulus, usually a good one
passing grades).
Define Negative Reinforcement and Provide an Example
Negative reinforcement is a misleading term in this cases. In the case, negative reinforcement is
not punishment but an attempt to getting rid of an undesirable stimuli that is ongoing. An
example of this would be when you open your car door and leave your headlights on your car on.
An annoying bell sound is triggered to catch your attention so that you turn your headlights off.
Once you have done this the sound disappears.
How can you use instrumental conditioning in your job? This is open to interpretation
In student affairs, you could use instrumental/operant conditioning as a motivational tool
to engage students that are not involved in activities and leadership around the campus. Much
like your wrestling team example, I have had students currently and in the past not take what it is
we do seriously. It was only when they were put into a leadership position did they understand
what it is we do but most importantly why we do the things that we do and are always pushing to
do what is best for the student programming of the university.
Operant Conditioning is a model of leaning that involves learning from a rewards (or
reinforcement) and punishment (both positive and negative) to achieve a desirable learning
outcome. In the case punishment can be both positive and negative. In the model, negative
punishment is not what traditionally thinking dictates. It refers to a not punishment but an
attempt to getting rid of an undesirable stimuli that is ongoing. Operant conditioning which is a
branch or instrumental conditioning was founded by behaviorist John B. Watson. After Watson
exited from the psychology world, B.F. Skinner told the reigns of behaviorists into a new
direction. (McLeod, 2007)
Operant conditioning can be an effective tool within the classroom setting. It can show a
process or outline the governance of the room and how order will be formed within the
educational setting. However there have been criticisms that operant conditioning and
behaviorism can lead to abrasive effects that will lead students to see schooling and education as
a punishment and rebel against the conditioning. Behaviorism does not all students to engage in
an active learning process because they are “being controlled” as opposed to having being
actively engaged in the learning process and not having the free will make effective choices in
the classroom environment. (Matthew a.el. Mental Help, 2013) Furthermore, the reward progress
is damaging to a student’s mental state in the classroom setting. While positive reinforcement is
a powerful ally, it can cause problems as students will only do assignments and tasks because of
the ending result instead of the overall satisfaction of mastering a new subject or learning a new
educational piece. In addition, students may see the negative stimulus as a positive stimulus and
this my engage their behaviorism and satisfy their emotional need to be an outcast or the class
clown. This behaviors must be dealt with in a professional manner but while dealing with the
fact that that student may have reinforcement issues.
The punishment of a student I not always the correct way to handle situations in the
classroom. Student can development serious issues when it comes to punishment. This includes
anxiety disorders, general dissatisfaction with school, not attending classes, and eventually could
lead to dropping out and not completed high school. (Encyclopedia of Management, 2013)
Matthew D. Jacofsky, Psy.D., Melanie T. Santos, Psy.D., Sony Khemlani-Patel, Ph.D. & Fugen Neziroglu,
Ph.D. of the Bio Behavioral Institute, edited by C.E. Zupanick, Psy.D. and Mark Dombeck, Ph.D. Updated:
Aug 9th 2013 Anxiety Disorder; Mental Help Volume 4 Issue 5 Page 3
Operant Conditioning." Encyclopedia of Management. 2009. Retrieved September 05, 2013 from
Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3273100205.html
McLeod, S. A. (2007). B.F. Skinner | Operant Conditioning - Simply Psychology. Retrieved from
http://www.simplypsychology.org/operant-conditioning.html