Course Title: Differential Reinforcement Workshop 206
Instructor: James O'Heare, CABC, CDBC, PABC
Course Description:
In this practical, mechanical skills development course students will apply the principles of behavior, and the techniques of dog training learned in previous courses to address a complex training task involving differential reinforcement. The training task will involve training an animal to target with a nose or paw touch a specific object on cue in the presence of two objects and then extinguish the targeting, while differentially reinforcing targeting of the other object, transferring stimulus control to a verbal cue, followed by generalizing the performance to different settings (including away from home) to meet specific response criteria. Differential reinforcement is often used to resolve problem behavior situations. In this course we train our own "problem behavior" (targeting the one object) so that we may practice this training strategy in a safe and ethical manner. The assignment will involve reporting on the training process to demonstrate insights and proper application of principles and techniques. The assignment is not graded based on whether you meet the specific training goal but rather the demonstration of learning new training behaviors in yourself from the experience and on understanding of concepts and terminology in learning and training.
You may find a product called the Touch It, available through http://www.nosetouch.com valuable in this and other targeting training tasks.
The assignment will involve reporting on the training process to demonstrate insights and proper application of principles and techniques. The assignment is not graded based on whether you meet the specific training goal but rather the demonstration of learning new training behaviors in yourself from the experience and on understanding of concepts and terminology in learning and training.
Learning Objectives:
Upon completing this course, the student will be able to:
- Apply principles of learning and training techniques to actual training projects
- Develop and implement a formal training plan
- Describe what behaviors and training objectives differential reinforcement is most appropriate for
- Transfer stimulus control to a verbal cue
- Generalize performance to new environments
- Effectively deliver reinforcers
- Deliver reinforcers with effective timing
- Establish and maintain a conditioned reinforcer
- Improve flexibility in training
- Communicate about training tasks
Texts:
- Getting Started Clicker Training For Dogs by Karen Pryor (Recommended but not required)
Course Evaluation:
This course will be evaluated by short essay assignments that will reflect and demonstrate mastery of the course topics and achievement of the learning objectives. The final grade will be the mean average of the assignment grades.
Enrollment Package Includes:
- Coursework document with assignments and course notes
- Student Handbook
- Access to Classroom, with transcripts from Guest Visits and handouts
- Free membership with AABP and to all issues of its journal JACAB
- Access to your Instructor for one-on-one guidance
Schedule:
The course begins as soon as your enrollment is complete and you receive your enrollment package. Although we allow 1 month for this course, you are free to complete the course sooner if you can, and we do allow extensions if need be.
Prerequisites:
- Principles of Behavior 104
CEUs: Continuing Education Credits Available. See Course Approvals page for credits.
Tuition:
The tuition is identified at the top of this page with the payment button. Tuition is in Canadian funds (Currency Converter). Textbooks not included in tuition. They may be purchased through http://www.dogwise.com, http://www.amazon.com, http://www.abebooks.com or http://www.half.com in most cases. Also check the Student Library. Canadian Residents 5% GST.
Notice:
Courses taken individually do not count toward program certificates or diplomas unless you are enrolled in the program as a whole.