B. F. Skinner

Positive Reinforcements

Back

gro

und

Born: March 20, 1904

Died: August 18, 1990

Ph’d – Harvard 1931

Researcher – Harvard

1931 – 1936

University of MN

1936 – 1946

Indiana University

1946 – 1947

Harvard

1948 - 1974

Inve

nte

d

Operant Conditioning Chamber

Radic

al

Behavi

ori

sm

Applied Reinforcement

• Natural

• Token

• Social

• Tangible

Removed or Avoided

Influence on Education

Verbal and Non-Verbal Behaviors

In Inst

ruct

ion

Encourage Students

Why

Teach

ers

Fa

il?• Aversive Techniques

• Telling and Explaining

• Failure to Adapt

• No Positive Reinforcement

Ski

nner’

s Te

chniq

ues

• Clearly State Action

• Simple to Complex

• Perform Each Step While Reinforcing

• Adjust So Student is Always Successful

• Transfer to Intermittent Reforcement

Can T

his

Theory

Help

?

Use of both verbal and non-verbal behaviors of Intermittent Positive Reinforcement helps engage students in their instruction.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15HocOVohTo

Mid

dle

Sch

ool

Impact

• Use of Natural, Tangible, and Social Positive Reinforcement will help in Classroom Management

• Will keep students engaged with Content of Classes

• Will increase student self-esteem

• Will decrease need for Negative Reinforcement

Hig

h S

chool

Impact

• Use of Natural, Token, and Social Positive Reinforcement will help in Classroom Management

• Will keep students engaged with Content of Classes

• Will increase student self-esteem

• Will decrease need for Negative Reinforcement

• Engaged students reduce drop-out rates

• Token helps promotes independence

Refe

rence

shttp://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/skinner.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15HncOVohTo

http://psychology.about.com/od/operantconditioning/f/positive-reinforcement.htm

http://psychology.about.com/od/profilesofmajorthinkers/p/bio_skinner.htm

Skinner Techniques by Mahzarin R. Banaji (Harvard University)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIEt6TrilXw