As a teacher of students with autism, it is important to design an effective educational program that addresses both behavioral excesses (e.g., challenging behavior) and behavioral deficits (e.g., social skills). Although many tend to associate applied behavior analysis (ABA) only with behavior management aimed at reducing challenging problem behaviors, ABA-based approaches are also powerful tools for teaching. As you watch the video for Chapter 2: “Antecedent-Behavior Consequence (ABC) Sequence: Using Positive Reinforcement to Increase the Likelihood of Appropriate Behavior” in this module/week’s Reading & Study folder, observe the teachers as they use positive reinforcement to teach their students specific skills and behaviors.

Based upon the video, reflect upon how you might incorporate positive reinforcement if you were the teacher. Consider the following: How would you identify the reinforcers, schedule of reinforcement, and amount of reinforcement provided? What challenges might you face when using positive reinforcement? How would you ensure the proper use of positive reinforcement and implementation fidelity across team members?