Overview of the Behavior Modification Trainer Package

The bmod trainer package includes instructional materials necessary to effectively deliver trainings to students on the basic principles and techniques of behavior modification. The training is broken down into a series of lessons that can be delivered to small or large groups of students, within short or longer periods of time (1-2 hours or all day trainings).

Lesson Format

The general format for each lesson is as follows:
1. Trainer hands out training materials.
2. Trainer presents content via PowerPoint slides.
3. Slides require Choral Responding and Response Card interaction.
4. Students take notes using Guided Notes handouts.
5. Students apply learnings in group activities.
6. Debrief and review.
7. Implement Token Economy and Rank System.

Lessons are Designed to Increase Active Student Responding (ASR)

The lessons incorporate instructional strategies designed to increase Active Student Responding (ASR). ASR occurs when students make observable responses (reading words, solving problems, stating facts, spelling words, analyzing relationships, etc.) that are related to the instructional material. There is a strong relationship between ASR and academic achievement -- the more ASR, the more learning.

PowerPoint (PP) Slides

The PP slides provide the instructor with an easy-to-follow, sequenced flow of content. There is a PP presentation for each lesson. Each begins with a title screen followed by the instructional objectives of the lesson. To increase ASR, the slides include Choral Responding and Response Cards, and each ends with review questions and an activity that requires students to apply their learnings. You may deliver the PP slides as is, or change and modify the slides to meet the unique needs of your situation.

Choral Responding

Choral Responding includes all students responding orally in unison to a question presented by the trainer. The slides contain questions with blanks or choices interspersed throughout each lesson that require students to chorally respond using the key terminology of the principles and techniques they are learning.

Response Cards

Response cards are cards, signs, or items simultaneously help up by each student to display their answer to a question or problem presented by the trainer. The slides contain true/false and multiple-choice questions where students use colored 3 x 5 cards (red, yellow, and green) to show their answers to the questions. Besides increasing ASR, Response Cards allow the trainer to easily distinguish the responses of individual students and adjust the progress of the lesson as needed. For example, if many students answer incorrectly, the instructor can elaborate and review the current topic.

Guided Notes

Guided Notes are handouts that provide students with prompts, cues, and spaces to write key facts, definitions, concepts, or notes related to the instructional content during lectures. Guided Notes increase ASR, improve the accuracy and efficiency of note-taking, help students more easily identify the most important information, increase the incidence of students asking questions, increase retention, and produce higher test scores when compared to only listening to lectures.

Student Activities

Each lesson ends with an activity in which students are required to apply their learnings. These activities are designed to enable the students to incorporate people and situations from their personal and professional situations and work environments where they plan to apply their learnings. This way, students begin to apply and solve their "real life" behavioral problems during the training.

Token Economy and Rank System

The Behavior Modification Training Package includes the ability to run your own Token Economy and Rank System during the training. Implementing your own Token Economy and Rank System will help to increase the level of participation and interaction of your students and the overall effectiveness of your training.

Also, if your students currently use or plan to implement a Token Economy or Rank System, this Training Package includes a lesson that teaches the essential principles and techniques of an effective Token Economy and Rank System. If you plan to teach this lesson, running your own Token Economy and Rank System during the training will provide modeling of these concepts and techniques and enable you to “practice what you preach” as you teach. If your students do not plan to implement their own Token Economy or Rank System, you can still implement one or both during your training to increase your effectiveness. Or if you prefer, administer the entire training without them. (The included manual contains specific directions on how to use the Token Economy and Rank System in your training.)

Trainer Manual

The bmod trainer package includes a Trainer Manual that contains detailed descriptions on how to set up, run, and implement the entire training. Included are sequenced lesson plans containing detailed steps and instructions for the trainer on how to adiminister each lesson, exercise, and activity. Also included are notes for trainers on what to expect, cues, hints, and suggestions derived from administering this training to hundreds of students throughout the last ten years. The Trainer Manual also includes "how to" directions for implementing the Token Economy and Rank System while delivering your trainings.

Student Manual

The bmod trainer package includes a Student Manual that contains Guided Notes, definitions and examples of all terminology, principles, and techniques presented in the training, as well as worksheets, exercises, and materials necessary for all activities.

What this Training Does Not Include

The bmod trainer package includes all materials necessary to implement the entire training except:
1. Computer, slide projector, and screen (for presenting the PowerPoint slides).
2. Response Cards (you will need to obtain your own red, green, and yellow 3 X 5 cards).
3. Large sheets of paper for recording Token Economy/Rank System points (optional) and for students to use in presenting results of exercises and activities (also optional).

What the Trainer Needs to Know Beforehand

The trainer should already have a general understanding of terminology and definitions of the principles of behavior modification included in the lessons (see Lessons below). If not, completion of the Basic Principles of Behavior Modification (basic bmod) Course will provide the essential prior knowledge.

Lessons

Below is an outline of the specific lessons and topics included in the bmod trainer package.

Lesson 1: Introduction and Basic Terms

• Why Learn Basic Principles of Behavior Modification?
• Voluntary, Involuntary, Public, Private Behavior
• Anti-social and Pro-social Behavior
• Antecedent Stimulus, Occasion, Trigger
• Target Behavior, Response
• Consequence
• Contingency

Lesson 2: Positive Reinforcement

• Positive Reinforcement, Positive Reinforcer
• Premack Principles
• Factors Influencing the Effectiveness of Reinforcement (Immediacy, Contingency, Size, Deprivation)

Lesson 3: Negative Reinforcement

• Negative Reinforcement
• Escape, Avoidance
• Sick Social Cycle

Lesson 4: Punishment

• Punishment
• Response Cost, Time Out
• Problems with Punishment

Lesson 5: Extinction

• Extinction
• Challenges and Problems with Extinction

Lesson 6: Token Economy

• Token
• Setting up a Token Economy
• Backup Reinforcers

Lessson 7 : Special Applications

• Contingency Contracting
• Group-oriented Contingencies
• Good Behavior Game
• Teaching Self-Management

What the Students Need to Know Beforehand

No previous education or training in behavior management, psychological principles, or educational concepts are required. However, the effectiveness and speed of this training can be increased by having students complete the Basic Principles of Behavior Modification (basic bmod) Course before experiencing the training. This will enable students to acquire the basic terminology beforehand and enable the trainer to concentrate more of the training on applying the principles and techniques. Also, the Basic Principles of Behavior Modification (basic bmod) Course serves as an effective follow-up to the training to increase the likelihood that students continue to understand and apply what they learned during the training.

Purchase a Subscription to the Behavior Modification Trainer Package (bmod trainer)

To purchase a subscription, please view the Product Catalogue and select the bmod trainer package. A one-time purchase provides you unlimited access. Immediately after purchasing a subscription you may Login and download the entire contents of the bmod trainer package. You are allowed to make copies of all of the files in the package for your personal use, but distribution of these files to anyone else is prohibited. Due to the ability to make copies of files, no returns and/or refunds will be issued for the bmod trainer package. You may view some of the PowerPoint slides and materials in the Samples section.