Brief description of Classical Conditioning, and how it can be used in the classroom

1. Classical
Conditioning
Behavioral Learning Theory

2. Ivan Pavlov
(1849-1936) Physiologist
• Used “conditioning” to gain a
predictable response from a stimulus
• Famous for behavioral experiment
with dogs
John B. Watson
(1878-1958): Psychologist
• Key researcher of behaviorism
• Famous for infant research and “Little
Albert” experiment

3. Pavlov Dog Conditioning
Pavlov presented food to dogs  dogs’ mouths water
Pavlov rang bell  the dogs’ mouths did not water
Conditioned
Response
Pavlov presented food to dogs and rang bell  dogs’ mouths water
Pavlov rang bell without food present  dogs ‘mouths water

4. Watson’s Little Albert
Before During Once
Conditioning Conditioning conditioned
When Albert was
Baby “Albert” is When Albert tried presented with the
allowed to play to pet or come rat again, he
with a pet rat. near the rat, became scared,
Watson would cried, and tried to
Albert enjoys make a loud noise. move away from
petting the rat and the rat.
does not fear it. This scared Albert.
This scaring when He had become
Albert was scared conditioned into
of loud noises. coming close
situation was realizing that the
repeated many white rat was
times. related to the loud
noise.

5. Main Points
Classical conditioning deals with reflexes,
or responses that are evoked from a specific stimulus
People can be trained to perform a certain task or
response by providing some sort of trigger, which
may be a sound, picture, phrase, etc.
When you see this:
What do you think of?
You’ve be conditioned to think of McDonalds after
seeing this picture! (Are you salivating?)

6. Classroom Implications
If the teacher is consistent and repetitive with these stimuli, eventually the students
will come to learn to behave properly through classical conditioning.
If the teacher… Then the students…
Before conditioning Counts down from twenty Will not clean up.
Tells the class to clean up Will clean up.
During conditioning Tells the class to clean up Will clean up.
and counts down from
twenty
After conditioning Counts down from twenty Will clean up.
The students’ behavior has been conditioned!

7. Classroom Implications
If the teacher is consistent and repetitive with these stimuli, eventually the students
will come to learn to behave properly through classical conditioning.
If the teacher… Then the students…
Before conditioning Instructs the class to quiet down Will get quiet.
Claps 3 times. Will not get quiet.
During conditioning Claps 3 times and instructs the Will get quiet.
class to quiet down.
After conditioning Claps 3 times. Will get quiet.
The students’ behavior has been conditioned!

8. Classroom Implications
Technology can be used too to help students be classically conditioned!
Music and computers are used here.
If the teacher… Then the students…
Before conditioning Plays the alphabet song Will not get setup up at
computers.
Instructs the students to go to
their assigned computers Will get setup at computers.
During conditioning Plays the alphabet song and Will get setup at computers.
instructs students to go to their
assigned computers.
After conditioning Claps 3 times. Will get setup at computers.
The students’ behavior has been conditioned!

9. Classroom Implications
Technology can be used too to help students be classically conditioned!
Calculators can help students learn through this behavioral method.
If the teacher… Then the students…
Before conditioning Wants students to learn Will not know answers.
multiplication tables
Use calculator to find answers Will be able to find answers.
During conditioning Wants class to repeat using Will be able to find answers
calculators to learn and slowly learn answers.
multiplication tables
After conditioning Wants students to learn Will no longer need
multiplication tables calculators and will
know answer.
The students’ behavior has been conditioned!

10. Personal Applications
In the classroom, I hope to use classical conditioning to teach
my students expected behaviors for routine activities
without having to daily tell them what I’m wanting.
• Clapping 3 times to get class quiet
• Counting down from twenty to get class to clean up
• Have certain songs played representing where students
should be (ie: “reading song” playing means go to reading
corner)
• Flashing the lights twice to get the class to return to their
seats.

11. Credits & Citations
• Biographical pictures from biography.com
• All other images from Microsoft Office Collections
• Cherry, Kendra. "Pavlov's Dogs: How Ivan Pavlov Discovered Classical
Conditioning." 13 Nov. 2012.
<http://psychology.about.com/od/classicalconditioning/a/pavlovs-dogs.htm>.
• Cherry, Kendra. “John B. Watson’s Biography (1878-1958)." 13 Nov. 2012.
<http://psychology.about.com/od/profilesofmajorthinkers/p/watson.htm>
• Learning Theories Knowledgebase (2012, November). Classical Conditioning
(Pavlov) at Learning-Theories.com. Retrieved November 15th, 2012 from
http://www.learning-theories.com/classical-conditioning-pavlov.html
• Shelly, Gary, Glenda Gunter, and Randolph Gunter. Teachers Discovering
Computers: Integrating Technology in a Connected World, Seventh Edition. Page
258. Boston: Cengage Learning, 2012.