Category: OC in the Class Room ¤
  Author: Debi Davis ¤
   Title: Follow Up on OC in the Geometry Class ¤

I wanted to report on how OC in the high school geometry class was going 
for my husband Tim.  To recap posts on this subject last fall, Tim 
decided that the punishment-based teaching methods and discipline 
preferred by his H.S. administration just weren't working. 

 He had the lowest passing rate for students, and would not bend on his 
principles of not passing a student who was failing the class.  He tried 
lots of ways to motivate them, but most of them had fixed ratios of 
reinforcement, and the students soon got to expect more and more, but did 
less and less.  

Finally he decided to incorporate operant conditioning into his classes 
at the beginning of the school year.  All summer he planned his strategy, 
making up "Geo Dollars" (token money like monopoly money) and deciding 
how he would "click" the kids to give them their rewards.  At first he 
planned to write everything down, let them know exactly what they could 
earn by offering certain behaviors.  We discussed how this would not give 
them enough incentive because it was still on a fixed ratio.  He decided 
to finally do random rewards, and with random reinforcement, success 
began rolling in the door.

For the most part, these are Barrio gang kids who are habitually late in 
getting to class, who ask for constant passes to go to the bathroom and 
graffito the walls, who have no interest in participating in class, who 
won't ask questions or help others.  

He began handing out Geo dollars when he came to class to the students 
who were already in their seats, telling them only, "Hold on to these. 
you may find they will come in handy."
For homework turned in, he gave out a Geo dollar, marking the moment with 
a "Good job". 
He looked for ways constantly to "click" them for good behaviors, and 
totally ignored the poor behaviors.  The kids who staggered in late 
didn't earn a click and soon began to get a bit jealous.  They wanted 
their Geo dollars too.  

So what are Geo Dollars?  Tokens that they can then hand back for a 
reward such as a pencil, a pad of paper, candy, bathroom passes, grade 
points added to test scores, etc.
They became the most coveted thing in the math department.  Before the 
bell rang, there was a scramble and all the students raced to be IN their 
seats when the bell rang, giving Tim their attention.  They didn't know 
when he might reward them, but knew they had a good shot at it.  And 
reward them he did!  

At first, one behavior earned one Geo dollar.  Then, on a variable 
schedule, he randomly reinforced for good behaviors.  The unwanted 
behaviors began to extinguish as new behaviors shaped by Tim began to 
take their place.  Bathroom passes used to be the hottest token in school 
until Geo Dollars took over.  Tim noted with total shock that he has only 
been asked for 2 bathroom passes all year long.  No one now wants to 
leave the classroom in case they miss a chance to be reinforced!  

Geo dollars are kept in leather wallets, in fancy bejeweled folders, 
stapled inside notebooks, and are watched like Brinks deliveries.  They 
are turned in mainly for grade points, or points added to a special 
project.  Tim gives bonus Geo Dollars frequently, "Jackpotting" the kids 
for a really neat unexpected behavior, like asking an especially good 
question, or turning in an intriguing homework paper.  He gave out $5 Geo 
dollars to every student who could get a parent to come to open house, 
and Tim's class had the highest attendance rate in the school!

Last month, Tim was visited by the principal who came into class to 
commend him on how much his students grades had improved, and how his 
failure rate had been lowered substantially.   And the principal could 
not believe that Tim had a whole roomful of Gang members paying attention 
and interacting in class.  He gave Tim a verbal click in front of the 
class, then shook his hand.  

OC works!!! This stuff is so awesome.  In some ways, it works to our 
benefit that we live in a punishment-based society.  When people start 
getting set up for success and rewarded for that success instead of 
punished for their mistakes, they really respond with incredulity, 
enthusiasm and desire to achieve.  It almost makes me feel like I have a 
secret "peace weapon"...if there ever could be such a thing.  The 
students, like our animals, feel THEY are in control, and that THEY are 
setting Mr. Loose up to reward them.
We all win!

Debi Davis
& the service Papillons
Tucson, AZ
scripto@azstarnet.com
www.thms.k12.az.us/teacherpages/~loose/family.html
"If vegetarians eat vegetables, what do humanitarians eat?"
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