Re: window of opportunity

["Janet Jeanpierre <jeanpierre@v...>" <jeanpierre@v...>]

Amy,

It is really important when we are shaping a behaviour to maintain 
and increase the criteria. At the beginning, we may accept a certain 
length of time to pass before the behaviour is performed; but as we 
shape that behaviour closer to what we want the final behaviour to 
be, that time before performing the behaviour might be shortened.

In order to earn the reinforcement, the criteria for the behaviour 
must be met. The criteria should also include a time frame to 
perform the behaviour.

For example, take Phoebe's recall.

Phoebe had a good recall, but sometimes took her time to respond. I 
had been accepting this approximation of the final behaviour which 
was to be an immmediate movement towards me.

In order to get closer to the final behaviour, immediate response to 
my whistle, I needed to not reinforce the behaviour that was not 
immediate (in small steps of course). If Phoebe came to my whistle 
after a pause on her part, I told her it wasn't good enough and we 
would try it again. Back to the perch for a repeat of the recall but 
no pine nuts. If I was still having problems, I would make the 
exercise easier, for example, I might not do the recall out of sight, 
or I might shorten the distance.

Notice that I am only training for one part of the behaviour at a 
time, in this example immediate response to the whistle.

Does that make it clearer?

Janet

--- In Freeflight@yahoogroups.com, "Amy" <studentmw99@e...> wrote:
> this method sat really badly with me, the term used even worse. I 
believe 
> that if the student does not respond favorably then I carry the
> responsibilty for that response entirely. I simply have not taught 
the
> lesson correctly. maybe I am pushing, pressuring, rushing the 
student if
> this is happening. the bottom line is the lesson is moving ahead too
> quickly. remember how important baby steps are.
> 
> amy
> ----------
> 
> > The animal is offered the cue and has a certain
> > amount of time to respond and earn the reinforcement. After that 
time
> > expires, no reinforcement is offered for the behavior.