Why do the students appear to be non-

participative and not learning

effectively?

What can be done to increase student

participation and effective learning?

As a teacher, it is important to…

1. Create a safe and positive classroom

environment

2. Plan lessons with student learning processes

in mind

3. Engage in objective post-lesson reflection

As a teacher, it is important to create a

safe and positive classroom

environment.

Classical Conditioning

Operant Conditioning

Why are the students so reluctant,

anxious and fearful to participate in Ms

Rita’s class?

How does this affect learning?

What can be done to remedy this

problem?

Unconditioned Stimulus

Unconditioned Response

Neutral Stimulus

Neutral StimulusUnconditioned

StimulusUnconditioned

Response

Initially Neutral Stimulus becomes a Conditioned

Stimulus

Evokes a Conditioned Response

Neutral Stimulus Unconditioned Stimulus

Unconditioned Response

Initially Neutral Stimulus becomes a Conditioned

Stimulus

Evokes a Conditioned Response

Student participation decreases as it is associated

with embarrassment and teacher disapproval.

Participation is an important part of effective

learning.

Removing negative associations and

creating more positive associations will

increase student participation and

therefore, learning.

Increases frequency of

behaviour

Positive reinforcement

Negative reinforcement

Decreases frequency of

behaviour

Punishment

PunishmentLack of Positive and Negative Reinforcement

Decreased frequency of

behaviour

Increasing positive reinforcement and

decreasing punishment will increase

student participation, which will increase

learning.

Decreasing punishment

Increasing positive

reinforcement

1. Do not humiliate or show obvious

disapproval in response to student

answers.

1. Use cues, prompts and praise.

2. Create a behavioural contract for

both students and teachers.