Interpret and explain what is happening in the video. Be specific. What is being paired and how is it being reinforced or punished?
This clip of the office is showing classical conditioning. The guy giving the Altoids references Pavlov's study of the salivating dog. This is the same situation with Dwight in that every time the guy would click the mouse and the sound on the computer would go off, Dwight expected an Altoid. After many times repeatedly over the course of time, the guy stopped asking Dwight for Altoids and Dwight put out his hand and expected to be given an Altoid. This is a clear example of classical conditioning where the sound of the mouse click on the computer meant that Dwight knew he should get an Altoid. In this scenario, the Altoid and mouse click sound were paired together. The sound of the mouse click on the computer is the unconditioned stimulus (originally neutral) and Dwight holding out his hand for the Altoid is an unconditioned response. In this case, this paired response is positively reinforced because Dwight being given an Altoid, is something he enjoys.
Now, invent a scenario. Think about how you could teach some kind of content through paired association. Would it look very different? (Think about your language classes, pairing pictures with word meanings, etc). What would be paired and how would it be punished or reinforced to end up with the desired learning? (Describe the scenario)
If I were to invent a scenario for kids about teaching through paired association, I would do positive reinforcement. Being negative about incorrect responses consistently can be ineffective. Lets say I was teaching 1st graders behaviors in the hallway (I remember doing this when I was in elementary school). When they are walking down the hallway to music class, art class, lunch, etc. there is to be no talking. If someone talks and is being disruptive, they have to pull a card when they get back. Whoever has no cards pulled the end of the day, gets to go to recess 5 minutes early. This the unconditioned stimulus is walking in the hallway quietly. The unconditioned response is getting to go to recess 5 minutes early because they did not pull any cards. This would teach them behaviors in the hallway and the importance of not disrupting other classrooms.
A very important distinction comes up in the last line you have here. Your strategy would teach particular behaviors (they would increase or decrease), but would NOT teach the importance of not disrupting other classrooms. That describes a value or attitude and not a behavior. There are other strategies for teaching THAT concept, but behaviorism probably isn't the one to use. You have to think about your goal for the students (do you want them to exhibit a behavior or hold a particular value?) and pick an instructional strategy that is appropriate to that goal.
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