Operant conditioning is a procedure for controlling behavior, explored and exploited most notably by B. F. Skinner, followed by many subsequent researchers. It involves shaping the behavior of an ...

Assessing student learning effectively is often complicated by relying on ambiguous proxies such as grades, quiz scores, or assumptions about students' internal states, such as what they feel, think, ...

In classrooms across the country, students are mastering their ABCs, solving equations, and diving into science. But one essential life skill–behavior–is not in the lesson plan. For too long, ...

Who do you want your child to be when they grow up? This is a question that we all need to consider when determining if behaviorism is working in the classroom. Currently, in almost every classroom ...

Operant conditioning, sometimes called instrumental conditioning or Skinnerian conditioning, is a method of learning that uses rewards and punishment to modify behavior. Through operant conditioning, ...

In Jarek Janio’s Inside Higher Ed opinion column, “Beyond ‘Grit’ and ‘Growth Mindsets,’” Janio argues that, to promote better student learning, college instructors should ignore questions about ...

Classroom management is paramount to effective teaching. It sets the stage for a productive learning environment where students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. The psychology ...

Have you ever wondered exactly why people do what they do? According to a school of thought known as behaviorism, it all comes down to the patterns of learning we've acquired through associations, ...

Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg are backing it with hundreds of millions of dollars. States from Florida to Vermont have adopted supportive laws and policies. And school districts across the country ...

Operant conditioning is a theory that explains how behaviors are influenced by their consequences or results. It’s often used today to help people adopt new behaviors or change old habits. If you’ve ...