Creating and sustaining effective learning environments using behaviour science
Have you been working hard to establish classroom routines and clear behavioural expectations at the start of this year? Are you wondering how to sustain, embed, and then responsively adapt these practices over the course of the year? Diving into behaviour science may assist you with your behaviour change efforts (yours and your students!).
Dr. Russ Fox and Dr. Erin Leif are obsessed with all things behaviour and are excited to talk with Think Forward Educators about ways to create and sustain positive and productive learning environments for all students. In this talk, they will describe the links between evidence-based behaviour support practices and effective teaching practices, such as those used in explicit and direct instruction approaches. They will also introduce the concept of ‘functional thinking,’ and how this type of thinking can guide how we support students that are at risk for poorer educational outcomes or exclusion. Adopting ‘functional thinking’ can help us understand how and why different behaviour support practices work, enable us to select and individualise practices in our classroom, and empower us to more effectively reflect on and address behaviour that has occurred in our room.
Access the recording and resources
About our speakers
Dr Russ Fox is a Lecturer in applied behaviour analysis in the School of Educational Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Education, at Monash University. He is a trained primary school teacher with experience teaching and working in mainstream primary schools. Russ has also worked extensively in alternative education settings, specifically supporting primary and secondary students exhibiting behaviours of concern and at risk of school disengagement. Following his direct work teaching students, he has worked in a capacity building role, providing in-school behaviour support coaching to teachers and school leaders. In addition, Russ has held a senior policy role within the Department of Education and Training in Victoria. His research interests include school-wide positive behaviour supports, multi-tiered systems of support, responsive teacher training, and the sustainability of implementation of evidence-based practices in education.
Dr Erin Leif is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst and Senior Lecturer in the School of Educational Psychology and Counselling, Faculty of Education, at Monash University. In this role, she coordinates the Master of Applied Behaviour Analysis course, and teaches graduate level coursework in behaviour assessment, behaviour support, and evidence-based practice. Erin is passionate about using science to help all kids thrive. Her research currently focuses on the exploration of strategies for building the capability of the workforce to effectively use positive, preventative, evidence-based practices when supporting children and young people with diverse learning needs in home, school, and community settings. Her research interests include positive behaviour support, multi-tiered systems of support, trauma-informed behaviour support, and universal design for learning.