Margot is a second grader who seems to have little or no motivation to learn in the classroom; as her teacher, you have noticed that she doesn't put much effort into her assignments

Question

Instead, she talks incessantly to the students around her during independent seatwork time. Using each of the concepts listed below, describe four different strategies you might use to help Margot improve her academic performance. For each strategy, be specific and concrete about what you would do.
• Intrinsic reinforcement
• Shaping
• Secondary reinforcement
• Vicarious reinforcement

Answer 1

Responses to this question will vary considerably. A response should identify four concrete and plausible strategies using the four concepts listed. Examples are:
• Intrinsic reinforcement: Building on the student's existing interests to teach new knowledge and skills
• Shaping: Reinforcing increasingly better classroom performance
• Secondary reinforcement: Reinforcing desirable classroom performance using a reinforcer that does not satisfy a physiological need (e.g., praise)
• Vicarious reinforcement: Reinforcing Margot's classmates for appropriate classroom behavior