Learning Environment and Development of a Token Economy in American Elementary School - Research Proposal Example

Learning Environment American Elementary School, Bakersfield, USA Target Population The target population for the development of a token economy is sixth grade students from American Elementary School, Bakersfield, USA Required Classroom Behavior & Expectations 1. Being attentive and listening to the teacher’s lectures: It is expected that students in the 6th grade remain attentive and listens to the teacher’s lectures as it is a point through which the future stone of a student is set. Since, the class has over 50 students so it is not possible for the teacher to focus individually on each students which makes it important that the students remain focused 2. Expected to work together in groups: It is expected that students will work as a team for different projects being assigned to them. This will help to develop team spirit and bring the required transformation for bigger roles. This will also require that students respect and listen to other views and have a flexible approach while dealing with the team members 3. Doubts should be clarified by mutual discussion: It is expected that if students have any doubts then the doubts will be cleared through with mutual dialogue while working in a group. Any doubts raised during the class will be done by raising the hand and ensuring that the student speaks only when the teacher says so and the students waits patiently for their turn 4. Students should use the time in a positive manner: It is expected that the students are expected to act in a positive manner and use the additional time which they have for their personal development. Students instead of loitering around have to use the additional time in a productive manner 5. Students are expected to be prepared: It is expected that students visiting the class are well prepared and read the materials before arriving at the class. Further, the students are expected to widen their horizon of reading and read different things from outside the reading materials so that they are better prepared. List of Reinforcement of Token & Cost of Token The teacher looks at using a process of reinforcement so that students’ development takes place and are not looking towards penalizing the students with punishment. This will help the students to be more committed and will bring a change in the behavior of the entire class. This will help in the personal development of the students and will direct the students to act in a positive manner. It is important to realize that a mix of both intrinsic and extrinsic rewards helps to motivate the students as establishing a proper mix helps to bring the best out of the students. So as to encourage students belonging to the 6th grade a token of appreciation has been developed which will increase the degree of commitment and ensure better personal development and commitment towards learning. This has thereby helped to formulate the following list of reinforcement and token which will be used during the semester to motivate the students to perform better Expected Attitude and Behavior in Class Token and Its Cost Being attentive and listening to the teacher’s lectures Expected to work together in groups Students are expected to be prepared Opportunity to choose from different projects Reinforcement of token (Certificates, medals, trophies etc.) Different medals like bronze, silver, gold etc. What will be used as tokens? Of the different tokens which have been determined to be used for the 6th grade class opportunity to choose from different projects. It hardly takes any money and can be used by all the teachers during the class as it will help the students to gain a social status among the class members and will provide an opportunity through which obliging with the required behavior will ensure a change in behavior and performing according to the expected standards. The process of reinforcement which has been decided as token needs to passed among the entire group and is not meant for an individual. This will ensure a spirit of working together in a group and will foster a culture where team dynamics improves. This will act as a motivating force for the entire group and will force them to be committed and work in a manner where team spirit develops (Edwards, 1997). The process will also help to differentiate the non performing students and instead of penalizing those students who haven’t been able to perform on the same standards the others are provided with extra incentive and benefit so as to differentiate them from others. The process of reinforcement will also help the teachers to ensure that a transformation can be ensured in the class behavior. Through the process the teacher can make the students understand the expected class behavior which they are required to demonstrate in the class. Receiving a small token will help the students take the matter seriously and will look towards being better planned and informed so that the expectations of the class teacher is met. There will be situations when certain students might be unwilling to transform their behavior but since a majority of the students would look towards the extra token will result in a transformation of the behavior of the entire class. Procedure To bring about a change in the behavior of 6th grade students and to ensure that the focus is on the personal development of a student the reinforcement has been based on 3 different expected attitude and behavior which a student is expected to demonstrate in the class. First Category The first category is an opportunity to choose from different project which will be provided in the class which will be provided to students who are attentive and listens to the teachers’ lectures. To confirm that the students were attentive the teacher will ask questions pertaining to what was discussed after the lecture and based on it a simple “Well Done” or “Good” or similar other words will be used to determine the process in which reinforcement will be passed. Second Category The second category of expected behavior expects that the students work together in a coordinated manner within the group and are able to complete the work which has been assigned to them. This will require the contribution of each and every member and each member within the group apart from the work completed by him should understand his fellow members work as questions will be posted to any members randomly based on their project and contribution. Unlike the first category the second category looks towards rewarding tokens in the form of certificate, medals and trophies. Category Three The third category like the second category aims towards special reinforcement for students who come prepared to the class and will determine the conduct and manner in which the students acts in the class. The process will help the teacher to transform the behavior as the students will come better prepared and will be able to handle the different tasks and responsibilities which will be assigned to them. The reward will be provided through the form of different medals like bronze, silver, gold etc. Token Reinforcement Menu The token which will act as a force for reinforcement has been developed which will look to evaluate the manner in which the entire class is provided with different reinforcement based on the token they have collected. The menu is as Token or Points Rewards 1 – 15 Opportunity to choose different projects 16 – 25 Certificates 26 – 35 Trophies 36 – 45 Medals 46 – 55 Certificates along with medals How tokens will be stored? Each group will have a different color token which will provided to the team leader who will be chosen by the team members. The token will be provided as soon as the project is started and will be completed when the project ends. This will help to ensure that a rough estimate is developed by the teacher and will provide each team with an opportunity to ensure that they are able to earn the reinforcements How tokens will be exchanged? To ensure that every group within the class is distinct the teacher will look to have team leaders from each group who will be allocated a color coin with numerical imprinted on it. On successful completion of one aspect 1 point imprinted coins will be assigned to the group leader and will be applicable for the entire group (Maag, 1999). The coins will be distributed based on team skills, work, professionalism, contribution of each member, ability to answer the questions and so on. The team leader will collect the coins and after completion of the project students will be allocated and provided special benefits as has been decided. The different benefits will further be segregated based on the tokens that have been collected and the cumulative value will determine what the students will receive. Classroom Design The teacher will further ensure that a blackboard highlights each team and its members and also shows the tokens that have been collected by them. This will help the other team to improve their performance and will help to develop the required standards based on which better changes in the class behavior can be ascertained. This will ensure better monitoring and the progress of each group can be seen by all the students and will thereby direct them to work and achieve the required behavior. References Edwards, H. (1977). Relation of productivity in elementary school science to token reinforcement involving liked and unlked peers. Journal of Research in Science Teaching 14 (5), 449 - 454. Maag, J.W. (1999). Behavior Management: From theoretical implications to practical applications. San Diego: Singular Press. —. "Rewarded by punishment: Reflections on the disuse of positive reinforcement in schools." Exceptional Children (2001): Vol. 67, No. 2, pp. 173-86. Read More