Session 9

• Early years
• Further Education (Key Stage 5)

Element 2 - Supporting Education 

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Session 9 

T level in Education & Early Years 

Learning Objectives

By the end of the session, all learners will be able to: 

Recall the importance of implementing effective strategies to support positive behaviour management. 

Assess and recall principles of behaviourism and how this can support strategies adopted by early years practitioners.

Explain B.F Skinner's operant conditioning theory and how this can be applied in early years. 

Assess and recall principles of behaviourism and how this can support strategies adopted by early years practitioners. 

Apply knowledge of classical conditioning (recall) & operant conditioning (current) through completion of worksheet and assessment task. 

Starter Activity (Connect)

Mind map strategies an Early Years practitioner can use to support effective behaviour management in early years.

Reflect on your placement experiences. 

Burrhus Frederic Skinner

Skinner an American Psychologist was interested in experimenting ways to condition 'modify' behaviour. 

It is important to note, Skinner recognised and appreciate the work of Watson & Pavlov, however felt humans learn through their primary environment based on consequences for their behaviour.

Skinner also expressed the importance of understanding own behaviour and how that can modify the way present our actions towards others.

The Skinner Box Experiment

Skinner developed the concept of his theory using a Skinner's box.

The subject (rat or pigeon) would interact with the lever.

In experiment 1 the rat was placed in the box and accident pressed the lever, it then learnt that pressing the lever would result in a treat.

The subject would learn that pressing the lever would result in a treat therefore it was conditioned to do so. 

The Skinner Box Experiment

After some time, number of bar pressing would dramatically increase and remain high until the rat’s tummy was full.

The Skinner Box led to the principle of reinforcement, which states that the likelihood of occurrence of something depends on the consequences of behaviour.

In fact, reinforcement theory identifies when individuals are rewarded for a specific behaviour, the likelihood of occurrence of this behaviour will increase.

However as part of Skinner's theory it is important to consider if certain behaviours are not reinforced, they are less likely to be reiterated.

Work Sheet - Apply 

Operant conditioning vs classical conditioning

Complete the worksheet & 

"Fill in the gaps". 

Peer Assessment

Swap your paper with someone on your table. 

Recall & Summary (review)

In your notes recall and summarise the key principles of the following behaviourist theories:

•  John Watson - Little albert experiment
• Ivan Pavlov - Classical conditioning 
• B.F.Skinner - Operant conditioning

Use this as an opportunity to review similarities and differences.

Research Task 

Instructions: Use the link, QR code or google classroom to access the article. 

Using the information, you are required to create a leaflet that will help you remember the key differences between operant and classical conditioning.

This can be used as a revision tool ready for your summer 2026 assessments.

Operant Conditioning Vs Classical Conditioning

https://www.verywellmind.com/classical-vs-operant-conditioning-2794861

Click the link to access the research article

Link can be accessed on GC under Element 2

Scan the QR code

Feedback 

Last week you completed an exam question on classical conditioning. We will engage in 2 part feedback.

Part 1 - Work in pairs and review the sample answer. Identify positives and areas of development.

Part 2 - You will recieve your response from last week that has been marked. 

Sample response

On Google Classroom I have uploaded a model answer for you to review and consider information that is not present in your response. 

This is important, even if you received 6 marks an above you should be adding to your notes to extend your knowledge about different ways the response could have appeared.

On your post it note state: 

1 piece of information you are taking away from this session. 

1 area of development you will consider.