Blogger Joanne Jacobs points us this week to the D-Ed Reckoning blog, where specific ideas for using positive reinforcement to motivate students are proposed. The ideas are based on an interview with a teacher who works in a poor, urban school.
Since this was my first visit to D-Ed Reckoning, I must say I did get a chuckle out of the quote from the movie Animal House featured at the top of the blog: “Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life.” I didn’t care much for Dean Wormer, but he was right on that note.
But back to positive reinforcement. Shouldn’t there be a balance between positive and negative reinforcement? When does positive reinforcement become counter-productive or even ridiculous?
Let’s get another lively discussion going on those questions.