Snow Plow Learning Picture


 

Snow Plow Learning Picture

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Learning Picture Name = Snow Plow.

Frequency of Correct Responses = Decelerating away from correct frequency aim.

Frequency of Error Responses = Accelerating away from error frequency aim.

Accuracy Ratio = Decreasing.

Change to Make = Step Back in the Curriculum.


Situation Report

Metaphor: Children back in the 1970s named this learning picture "Snow Plow" because the converging lines resemble (a) the skiing technique for slowing down -- by pointing the skis inward, or (b) the blades of a snow plow. Take your pick! Pat All reported on the learning pictures and their names (All, 1977). Likewise, that same year Dr. Ogden R. Lindsley (1977) presented learning pictures to the MABA convention.

Description: "Snow Plow" represents a very undesired learning picture. The rate of corrects is decelerating. At the same time, the rate of errors is increasing. Accuracy is worsening. There is no improvement. Eventually, the rate of corrects and the rate of errors may converge, and even crossover each other -- a sort of "reverse crossover-jaws."

Decision: If a "Snow Plow" learning picture emerges, the decision to make is to step back in the curriculum.

Notes: The Record Floor represents the amount of time spent recording the behavior of interest. We define it as 1/number of minutes spent recording. On the chart we use a dashes to show it. If the Record Floor stays the same every day, then a dashed line (as shown above) can be used. "Zero" per minute is shown by frequencies plotted just below the Record Floor. All standard celeration charts should have a Record Floor.


References

All, P. (1977). From get truckin' to jaws, students improve their learning picture. Unpublished master's thesis, University of Kansas.

Lindsley, O.R. (1977). What we know that ain't so. Invited Address presented at the Third Annual meeting of the Midwestern Association of Behavior Analysis, Chicago, IL, May.


Notices

The chart shown above represents a likeness only of a standard celeration chart. The chart shown above is also a "stylized" chart. That means that I constructed it for teaching and illustrative purposes only. It does not show real data. The celeration lines range through more chart cycles than one typically finds.

Dr. Ogden R. Lindsley invented the Standard Celeration Chart, founded Behavior Research Company, and has been the main proponent and developer of both Precision Teaching and standard celeration charting.

Actual Standard Celeration Charts can be purchased from the Behavior Research Company, Box 3351, Kansas City, KS 66103. FAX: 913 362-5900.


For noncommercial educational and illustrative purposes only.


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John W. Eshleman, Ed.D. June 2002

 

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