burrhus frederic skinner by: grace, grayson, kelly, and stephanie
TRANSCRIPT
Burrhus Frederic Skinner
By: Grace, Grayson, Kelly, and Stephanie
B.F. Skinner Through the Years:1904- Born in Susquehanna, PA on
March 20th.1926- Graduated from Hamilton
College1930- Invented operant conditioning
chamber, received Harvard Fellowship
1938- Published The Behavior of Organisms
1944- Executed his “Pigeon Project” (Proving operant conditioning)
B. F. Skinner Through the Years:
1945- Created the Teaching Machine and Air Crib at the University of Indiana
1948- Published Walden Two1949- Elected president of the
Midwestern Psychological Association1956- Described the fixed interval of
reinforcement1966- Named president of the
Pavlovian Society
B. F. Skinner Through the Years:1971- Published Beyond Freedom and
Dignity1972- Received Humanist of the Year
Award1974- Retired1983- Published Enjoying Old Age1990- Passed away on August 18th
B. F. Skinner’s Theory:
B. F. Skinner believed that consequences and rewards shaped a child’s behavior.
Bad Behavior Punishment
Good Behavior
Rewards
Once good behavior has been achieved, intermittent rewards will be sufficient.
Reinforcements: There are four categories of reinforcements and
punishments that are ideally in schools:
Social Verbal & nonverbal.
Graphic Markings: smiley faces, stickers, etc.
Activity Given a reward: A task such as classroom monitor- being
excused from a homework.
Tangible Real objects that the students receive as rewards.
“The way positive reinforcement is carried out is more important than the amount.” – B. F. Skinner
Punishments:
Social Verbal & nonverbal.
Graphic Markings: sad faces, red markings, etc.
Activity Given an extra assignment: A punishment such as
missing out of fun activities, detention, or expulsion!
Tangible Real objects that the students receive as punishment:
Redoing (or receiving more) homework.
“Skinner’s Box” B. F. Skinner proposed his belief that
children would learn best if all distractions and outside influences were removed from the classroom. For example: Skinner’s Box
He designed a box that illustrated his theory and tested rats and pigeons in it. Food Access Electric Currents
Advantages Disadvantages
Skinner’s theory is believed to not control/manipulate the students, but to free them to behave in ways that bring positive recognition and success
Students feel that the teacher is kind and considerate.
Teachers feel that it makes teaching easier and more enjoyable.
Some people believe that this is manipulation and wrong.
According to David Hill in his article, Order in the Classroom, rewards may not in fact affect the child’s behavior.
Research has proven that some distractions (example: viewing nature out of a window) can provide a calming effect over children, especially children with ADHD.
