Self-reinforcement

Overview

When students give themselves positive self-statements after reaching a goal, they acknowledge their progress and reward their small successes. Self-reinforcement, when combined with self-monitoring, can actively involve students in their learning, which boosts Motivation and Inhibition & Self-regulation. Encouraging students to evaluate their writing and self-reinforce when they meet or surpass their expectations fosters positive Emotion towards writing.

Use It in the Classroom

Teachers can work with students to set clear goals, criteria for meeting them, and appropriate reinforcers. While self-statements (e.g., "I met my goal of improving my introduction paragraph") are preferred and should be tried first, reinforcers can take many forms, including tangible items such as stickers or intangible motivators such as social activities or special privileges. Since every class is different, teachers can choose different types of reinforcers and even allow students to choose their own.

Design It into Your Product

Developers can gamify their products by building in several kinds of reinforcers that the students can choose and award themselves. Having choice for when and how they praise themselves helps students develop Metacognition, Motivation, and confidence.

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Resources

Below are additional examples, research, and professional development. These resources are possible representations of this strategy, not endorsements.

Metacognition & Self-Regulated Learning

Subtopic that includes research on metacognitive processes that help learners plan what and how to learn on Digital Promise's Research Map

Self-Efficacy

Subtopic that includes research on the factors that lead people to develop self-efficacy on Digital Promise's Research Map

Self-Monitoring Strategies

Detailed explanation of self-monitoring and self-reinforcement strategies

Self-Regulation Skills

Video on how to encourage self-reinforcement for self-directed learning

Self-Reinforcement

Strategies for implementing self-reinforcement

Factors Supported by this Strategy

Literacy

Foundational Writing Skills

Cognition

Inhibition & Self-regulation

Metacognition

Student Background

More Metacognitive Supports Strategies

Checklists & Rubrics

Checklists and rubrics help students develop their abilities to self-assess and revise their writing.

Goal Setting & Monitoring

Setting overall goals, as well as smaller goals as steps to reaching them, encourages consistent, achievable progress and helps students feel confident in their skills and abilities.

Reflect on Learning

Providing space and time for students to reflect is critical for moving what they have learned into Long-term Memory.

Self-instructions

When students engage in a dialogue with themselves, they are able to orient, organize, and focus their thinking.

Self-monitoring

When students monitor their comprehension, performance, and use of strategies when reading and writing, they build their Metacognition.

Self-reinforcement

Overview

Use It in the Classroom

Design It into Your Product

Resources

Factors Supported by this Strategy

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