Chapter 6: Behavioural Views of Learning

Treena is a bright and personable girl in your sixth-grade class. A large part of your classroom activities involve class participation through questioning and recitation. Treena, however, never raises her hand and, when called on, "freezes" and often says nothing. You notice that she is social with friends. Her shyness seems restricted to speaking before a group. Discussion with her fifth-grade teacher indicates that the same behaviour took place last year. To help Treena become less inhibited about answering in class, you consider possible strategies or principles suggested by behavioural theories.

1. Give a specific example of how each of the following approaches might be used in a behavioural plan designed to help her.

1. Classical conditioning
2. Positive reinforcement
3. Shaping
4. Extinction
5. Negative reinforcement
6. Token economy

2. How did your reflections on this case study prepare you to become more responsibly engaged in the world?