BH245: Getting Geeky about Behavior Change

Are you ready to become a behavior geek?

• Do your ears perk up when someone says "science"?
• Do you find yourself wondering why one training approach works better than another?
• Do you secretly want to be a person who nods knowingly when someone talks about the Matching Law?

Most importantly, do you want to be one of those people who always seem to know how to adjust their training to optimize results?

If so, this is the course for you!

In Getting Geeky about Behavior Change, Irith Bloom will take you on a journey through applied behavor science -- with a healthy dose of theory so you understand why you are doing what you are doing, and can apply that knowledge to whatever training task you are facing.

Topics covered will range from the basics of learning theory to the many higher-level factors that make all the difference when you're faced with a challenging training or behavior issue.

Since this is the first time this course is being offered, the syllabus is not yet set in stone (so to speak), but here are just a few of the topics we'll delve into:

• Learning Theory (both basic and advanced)
• Cueing (in all its glory -- and believe me, it is glorious 🙂)
• Habits and Routines (and how they can be useful... or not)

That's just a taste of what Irith has in mind.  Gold and Silver students will have input into which other topics are covered.

While there will be set exercises to practice in this course, Gold students will also be encouraged to try things that may not be in the formal lectures, depending on what their goals are.  That means Bronze and Silver students will get to see the process of selecting the right tecniques in action!

So join Irith to get geeky and learn why we do what we do, as well as how to do it all even better.

NOTE: Irith was first described as a geek by others when it was a bit less cool, and has always been proud to wear that badge. 😁

One more note: As mentioned above, this is a first-time course, and the course content will be determined in part by the Gold and Silver students, so definitely consider snagging at least a Silver spot!

Teaching Approach

Lectures will be released once a week, but each week will include more than one mini-lecture.  You can watch all the week’s mini-lectures at once or space them out, as you prefer.  A brief summary of the week's lectures will also be provided each week.

NOTE: Most lectures will be provided in video format as well as in a transcript.

I will be checking the class forums at least twice each day, unless an announcement is made otherwise.  I will endeavor to address posts within about 18 hours, but it may occasionally take a little longer.

NOTE: As mentioned earlier, student input will help shape what the course covers to some extent, so Silver and Gold students are encouraged to use the forums to share their ideas and thoughts.

Instructor: Irith Bloom

Irith Bloom finds joy in helping people teach with kindness while developing choice-rich environments for their companion animals. ... (Click here for full bio and to view Irith's upcoming courses)