Operant Conditioning: How Effective is it?

Operant conditioning has proven its self effective in short term results, but when you are thinking more deeply of its effectiveness in entirety there is some debate. What I mean by its entirety is both the long and short term effects of operant conditioning.

Upon first glance at statistics and proof of its effectiveness one would never think not to utilize this tool, but upon further investigation, this useful and proven tool has only proved itself in the short term. It was mentioned in class of the several 'eyebrow raising' implications that it entails. This same tool is used on successfully training a pet to behave or do a trick, and this same tool is used on children, our children and our future. This is where it gets a little sticky. Operant conditioning fixes the visible problem, the one that disrupts the class, the one that disciplinarians deal with on a daily basis. But that may be all its fixing. After all, its main purpose is to fix the behavior that you see, nothing deeper, nothing  greater than that. To see the flaws in this successful system is to think about what the student is actually internalizing from it.



From Google Images

 Operant conditioning uses four tools: positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, positive punishment, and negative reinforcement. These tools are extremely effective in the classroom management side of things. Loud disturbances in class, missed or late homework, the list goes on , but what it misses is whats happening in the background: why was the student acting out, why did the student not complete their homework or why was it late. A quick fix is much easier in a classroom full of students seemingly with their own agendas. 


From Goggle Images

Positive reinforcement is a reward or praise for doing something. This I think, no matter if operant conditioning is right or wrong or what critics do say, every child, student, and person deserves some praise when they have done something right. This reassurance helps build confidence which has also been proven as a useful learning tool. With that being said, the positive praise needs to be evenly distributed and not always directed at the same few students. Each students' ability varies in time and skill and so they will reach success or that 'well done' at different rates but it needs to be there regardless. Also positive reinforcement is helpful to encourage someone who hasn't accomplished the task but has at least tried. Its all in the TRY. When a student gives up one time, it isn't long before its easier and easier to give up on another thing and so on. A positive remark, a smile, or an encouragement can go a long way.




From Google Images



In terms of negative reinforcement, it too has its time and place. A disruptive student leads to a disrupted class which then is a learning environment with not a whole lot of learning happening. It has its time and place, for example, when something is new or fresh to your students, like a guest speaker, negative reinforcement may be one of the few tools that you can use easily and effectively.

Just because operant conditioning has a few holes in it, it has a time and place where it is required and very effective, even if it is short term. We all remember those teachers that lifted us up when we were down, or went that extra mile for us,a lot of those times they were probably using operant conditioning, so it can be a quick fix, but also have long term benefits, even if they aren't the ones that make you grow, they are there to encourage you to grow. Like all things, 'everything in moderation'.