Pedagogy and Professional Responsibilities (PPR) TExES Practice Exam

Which classroom management strategy is based on Skinner's theory of operant conditioning?

1. Providing breakfast to help students focus

2. Praising on-task students while correcting off-task students

3. Creating collaborative groups for peer learning

4. Developing hands-on activities to engage students

The correct answer is: Praising on-task students while correcting off-task students

The strategy that aligns with Skinner's theory of operant conditioning involves the use of reinforcement and consequences to shape behavior. By praising on-task students, the teacher is reinforcing desirable behavior, which increases the likelihood that those students will continue to stay focused and engaged in their work. This positive reinforcement is a central tenet of operant conditioning, as it emphasizes the idea that behaviors can be strengthened or weakened based on the consequences that follow them. Correcting off-task students also plays a role, as it introduces a form of feedback that can serve as a deterrent for undesirable behavior. This combination of reinforcement for positive behavior and corrective measures for negative behavior exemplifies the principles of operant conditioning, which centers around the manipulation of reinforcements to influence behavior in a classroom setting. Other strategies, such as providing breakfast, may have benefits for student focus but do not directly leverage the operant conditioning framework. Creating collaborative groups and developing hands-on activities focus more on engagement and social dynamics rather than the specific reinforcement mechanisms of behavior modification outlined by Skinner. Therefore, praising and correcting behaviors directly applies the concepts of operant conditioning to classroom management.