The reinforcement theory was developed in 1957 by Burrhus Frederic Skinner. This is the idea that a worker's behavior is influenced and regulated by behavior appraisal and rewards.The term reinforcement means to strengthen, and is used in psychology to refer to anything stimulus which strengthens or increases the probability of a specific response. Reinforcement in the classroom is a consequence following a behavior that increases the probability that the behavior will increase in the future. Reinforcement in the classroom should be used to keep students engaged and motivated to learn. Teachers should use reinforcement often in order to maintain a positive learning environment and to promote appropriate classroom behaviors.
This video is a perfect example of positive reinforcement. Although it is from a fictional comedy show, it still goes to show how positive reinforcement is used. We notice that Sheldon rewards Penny with a piece of chocolate every time she expresses good behavior. This makes her more likely to partake in good behavior again. There are multiple clips where Penny receives chocolate for doing something that Sheldon likes. This applies the same in the classroom because when a teacher gives a student a piece of candy or praise, they get happy and are more likely to behave the same way so they can receive another reward!
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