Operant conditioning is a key component of behaviorism that is a method of teaching through a system of rewards and punishment. Operant condition can be used in many ways in the classroom. As pointed out in the article about Skinner, applying operant conditioning to learning in the classroom can be direct. I myself have used operant conditioning to some extent with behavior systems as well as academic learning.

Although frequent reinforcing in some ways can result in a lack of effectiveness of the teacher’s reinforcement if it is not used carefully, Skinner said that the automatic reinforcement of being right and moving on is inexhaustible. This idea seems to be the motivation behind Skinner’s Teaching Machine.

I personally found the video about the Teaching Machines fascinating. As I was watching the children and listening to Skinner explain the machine, my mind immediately connected it to a computer program we use with our first graders for literacy intervention. Seeing the Teaching Machine immediately inform the students if they were right or wrong reminded me of the same instant feedback that my students get when they use Lexia Reading Core 5.

Lexia Reading Core 5 provides immediate feedback after the student responds to the question. Along with motivating feedback that is provided after each correct response, it also includes progress bars that fill up as a student successfully completes each unit within an activity. Students are only allowed to move on to the next activity when they have mastered the current skills. If there are repetitive mistakes on a particular skill, the program goes back and provides hints and mini-practice lessons for the challenging skill. It is apparent that Skinner’s method of operant conditioning in education has been the foundation for learning based computer programs today, such as Lexia Reading Core 5.

This video gives a breif demonstration of how Lexia Reading Core 5 works.

Resources:

Macaruso, P., & Walker, A. (2008). The efficacy of computer-assisted instruction for advancing literacy skills in kindergarten children. Reading Psychology,9(3), 166. Retrieved January 17, 2019, from http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.proxy2.library.illinois.edu/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=1&sid=dd0 cf0a4-911c-4f3d-9d9f-0c49d87645ee@pdc-v-sessmgr05

http://newlearningonline.com/new-learning/chapter-6/skinners-behaviourism

https://www.lexialearning.com/