Download Student Project: Learning on the Web

Unit VI: Web Resources
Introducing Learning
Student Project: Learning on the Web
A variety of tutorials and demonstrations of the learning principles covered in the text can
be found on the web. For example, Mark Plonsky’s very useful library at
http://www.uwsp.edu/psych/dog/lib-sci.htm has a large number of links organized into
the categories of classical conditioning, operant conditioning, biological constraints on
learning, cognitive views, and other issues.
Learning Web Sites
The site for John Krantz’s Tutorials and Demonstrations provides access to John Hay’s
“Basic Concepts in Learning,” including classical and operant conditioning and to Lyle
Grant’s tutorial, Positive Reinforcement: A Self-Instructional Exercise. First, Grant
defines and illustrates the concept of positive reinforcement with examples and
nonexamples. Positive reinforcement occurs when a consequence is presented as a result
of a particular behavior. That behavior is more likely to recur because and only because
the consequence follows it. In the second part of the exercise, students classify fourteen
new situations as examples or nonexamples of positive reinforcement and are given
feedback on their performance.
Operant Conditioning (Modules 27 and 28)
You can send students to Misha the Wonder Cat for an application of operant
conditioning. At this site, the cat’s owner/trainer, Karawynn, describes Misha’s repertoire
of tricks, including regular use of a human toilet. Then, have students analyze
Karawynn’s detailed description of how to toilet-train a cat Because there is no explicit
reference to operant conditioning principles, this Web site provides a wonderful
opportunity for you to have students analyze the suggested procedure in terms of unit
content. Have them provide a brief written or oral report.
© BFW/Worth Publishers, 2014
Myers’ Psychology for AP®, Second Edition