Assessing student learning effectively is often complicated by relying on ambiguous proxies such as grades, quiz scores, or assumptions about students' internal states, such as what they feel, think, ...

My recent article, "Behavior Modification Is Everywhere: Why Education Can’t Afford to Pretend Otherwise," sparked thoughtful, even passionate, comments from readers. These responses highlighted ...

In classrooms across the country, students are mastering their ABCs, solving equations, and diving into science. But one essential life skill–behavior–is not in the lesson plan. For too long, ...

In Jarek Janio’s Inside Higher Ed opinion column, “Beyond ‘Grit’ and ‘Growth Mindsets,’” Janio argues that, to promote better student learning, college instructors should ignore questions about ...

Classroom management is paramount to effective teaching. It sets the stage for a productive learning environment where students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. The psychology ...

Have you ever wondered exactly why people do what they do? According to a school of thought known as behaviorism, it all comes down to the patterns of learning we've acquired through associations, ...

Operant conditioning, sometimes called instrumental conditioning or Skinnerian conditioning, is a method of learning that uses rewards and punishment to modify behavior. Through operant conditioning, ...