1. Burrhus Frederic Skinner By: Grace, Grayson, Kelly, and Stephanie

2. B.F. Skinner Through the Years:  1904- Born in Susquehanna, PA on March 20th.  1926- Graduated from Hamilton College  1930- Invented operant conditioning chamber, received Harvard Fellowship  1938- Published The Behavior of Organisms  1944- Executed his “Pigeon Project” (Proving operant conditioning)

3. B. F. Skinner Through the Years:  1945 - Created the Teaching Machine and Air Crib at the University of Indiana  1948 - Published Walden Two  1949 - Elected president of the Midwestern Psychological Association  1956 - Described the fixed interval of reinforcement  1966 - Named president of the Pavlovian Society

4. B. F. Skinner Through the Years:  1971- Published Beyond Freedom and Dignity  1972- Received Humanist of the Year Award  1974- Retired  1983- Published Enjoying Old Age  1990- Passed away on August 18th

5. 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.

7. 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

8. 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.

9. “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

10. Operant Conditioning Video:  http://youtu.be/I_ctJqjlrHA http://youtu.be/I_ctJqjlrHA

13. 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.

14. Reinforcements Affect Behavior  http://youtu.be/euINCrDbbD4 http://youtu.be/euINCrDbbD4