A classic example of operant learning for children is providing clear rules and consequences. Rules and consequences provide clear guidelines of expected behavior and should be clearly communicated to children and have a connected consequence. For instance, if a student is not following a classroom rule, the student will receive a warning. If the student continues to break the rule, the next consequence would be administered. For example, they will have to move their name to the next step on a behavior chart. Conversely, if a student is demonstrating compliance with the rules, they can receive a positive consequence such as verbal praise, or a sticker on a reward chart.
Instructional objectives are what drive a teacher's lesson plan. Objectives include a measurable, observable criteria of what the student will learn by participating in the lesson. For example, an effective instructional objective is "The student will correctly define 15 out of 20 vocabulary words on their weekly vocabulary test." As a result of effective instructional objectives, the students will have a positive outcome, which is mastering the objective. The method of outlining instructional objectives makes teaching and learning more effective.
Applied Behavioral Analysis, or ABA, is a method to increase positive behaviors by applying the theory of operant learning. ABA is widely recognized as an effective treatment for children with autism, but is not limited to this population. Therapists who employ the ABA method increase desired behaviors by practicing said behavior, such as recognizing sight words, and reinforcing the behavior with positive praise and motivation. The ABA method is considered very effective and helps children to pick up on behaviors that they might not otherwise.
A behavior contract is an agreement between a child and a parent or teacher that outlines expected behavior and the consequences of that behavior. A behavior contract is a useful tool for children who need more specific expectations than the rest of a group. The adult will outline two to three expectations for behavior, and describe what will happen if the child does or does not meet those expectations. The contract should be broken down in to manageable chunks so that the child can exhibit the desired behaviors and work up to a larger goal.