Project Title
Classical and Operant Conditioning
Developer
Joe Buffa
Program
PowerPoint in Kiosk mode
The project in a sentence…
This project will be designed to serve as a way for students to learn about the different parts that make up a classical and operant conditioning experiment, culminating with students being asked to demonstrate their knowledge by creating their own experiments.
Standards Addressed:
National Standards for High School Psychology
Curricula Category: Learning
Content Standard 1: Classical Conditioning
Students will be able to:
1.1 Describe the principles of classical conditioning.
1.3 Apply classical conditioning to everyday life.
Content Standard 2: Operant Conditioning
Students will be able to:
2.2 Describe the principles of operant conditioning.
2.4 Apply operant conditioning to everyday life.
Pedagogy
This lesson will povide for direct instruction outside of the classroom. The PowerPoint wil provide rules of classical and operant conditioning, followed by examples and quick quizzes that students must get correct in order to advance in the lesson. The goal is to flip the classroom so that students learn about these two types of learning and the next day come prepared to create theiown experiments.
End of Class Day 1:
Hook: In class students will be shown a video clip from the TV series “The Big Bang Theory.” In the scene the character, Sheldon, attempts to operantly condition another character, Penny.
Discussion: Students will be asked to write down what they think happened. Topic Introduction:
Homework: Students will then be introduced to the concept of Classical and Operant Conditioning through PowerPoint Kiosk. The PowerPoint will include the background stories behind Pavlov (Classical Conditioning )and B.F. Skinner (Operant Conditioning) The PowerPoint will discuss the building blocks of a classical conditioning and operant conditioning experiment. Practice: Terminology will be described. Students understanding of the terminology will be assessed through built in multiple choice questions. Correct answers will allow students to continue on with the PowerPoint. Wrong answers will direct students back to the slide where the information can be found. The PowerPoint will provide examples of classical and operant conditioning experiments. Students understanding of the different components of each experiment through will be assessed through built in multiple choice questions. Correct answers will allow students to continue on with the PowerPoint. Wrong answers will direct students back to the slide where the information can be found.
Day 2:
Hook: Recap- Students will be shown video clips of the famous classical conditioning experiment performed by John B. Watson, “Little Albert,” and of the famous operant conditioning experiment performed by B.F. Skinner, “The Skinner Box.” These clips were embedded in the PowerPoint but the goal is to quickly review in order to check for understanding (could substitute with other examples)
Small Groups: Students will then be placed in groups to discuss the experiments. Students will then be asked to identify the key components of each experiment utilizing the terminology learned from the PowerPoint on Day 1.
Application: Students will be asked to create a write up of their own classical and operant conditioning experiments. Students will then be asked to create a visual representation of their experiments which they will share with the class at the end of the period.
