Monday, October 11, 2010

Why to Make Teaching Fun

The following information is from Unit 10 of the book Teaching: A Course in Psychology by Wesley C. Becker, Siegfried Engelmann, and Don R. Thomas. 

Note: Science Research Associates published the book in 1971. I am unsure if the publishers reprinted the book or if it is available to buy. I found it through a university inter-library loan program. I suspect that Becker or Engelmann use the book or some form of it in their special education teaching classes at the University of Oregon.
  • Task-embedded reinforcers: reinforcers built into the teaching presentation
    • Content of presentation or style of prsentation
      • Reinforcing content examples: themes with food, people making silly mistakes, unusual animals, dramatic and content
  • How to make neutral content reinforcing
    • A neutral stimulus can become a conditioned reinforcer if the neutral stimulus is repeatedly followed by reinforcement
    • Teaching with a reinforcing style
      • The teacher responds to the material as if it is interesting and exciting
      • “The teacher needs to take the role of an actor playing at being a fun teacher until she actually becomes a fun teacher”
      • Variations in pacing, rhythm, loudness, and pauses create intermittent reinforcement for on-task behavior
      • Pauses are especially important because the students more carefully attend to what comes next
        • Pauses can also seem like a game, and students usually enjoy any games

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