Modern Principles of Shaping - 4. Relax criteria when something changes!

I'm writing a 10 part blog post where I discuss the Modern Principles of Shaping by Karen Pryor, to help solidify them in my mind.

4. Relax criteria when something changes. When introducing a new criterion or aspect of the skill, temporarily relax the old criteria for previously mastered skills.

 

1. Introducing a criteria could be, for a human, spelling out what you want that person to do.  In this case, use only 5 words, use a positive statement, and make it memorable/measurable. 
2.  For non-verbal (differently abled, animals), begin rewarding a different criteria, but be lenient on the other.  This can be a hard experience, because the subject is now being rewarded for something different than before.  
3. When you relax the old criteria, use your judgement about how much to relax it.  For the first few C/T, relax it completely, to the point that you're not looking for it at all.  
4. When the new criteria is trained up, you can begin adding the first criteria back in.  The learner needs to be able to do both of the criteria before you ask for both.  
5. Don't lose heart that the learner seems to have lost all the things he learned.  You relax the criteria because the learner WILL be more variable in what they know until they know the new criteria. 

Outstanding Questions: How many times should you repeat something?  Should the same criteria be used for multiple rewards in a single session?  Or is switching between criteria every C/T OK? 

9/24

1 Session.  (Sessions are getting longer.  They can be up to 20 reinforcements.)

Turn head to her name -
Come -x2
Sit Pretty -This is going toward both paws up, to grasp my fingers, mouth closed (so she doesn't mouth)
Nose to Fist - Good progress.  Started to move toward my fist a couple times when it was quite far, including for a recall (~3 feet) and behind me.
Shake - Having trouble getting her to understand that sitting and raising her right paw is a way to earn rewards.  But it is happening more often. 


Complete/Maintain: Sit, Sit Pretty

Next: Other intonation versions of "Jazz", Spot she can sit in (Bell she can push?) if she wants attention. Sit wherever she is, rather than walking over to me then sitting. At this time, no plans to proof the tricks. 

Future: Touching her paws (toward clipping her nails), Handshake

Modern Principles of Shaping - 3. Train one criterion at a time!

I'm writing a 10 part blog post where I discuss the Modern Principles of Shaping by Karen Pryor, to help solidify them in my mind.

3. Train one criterion at a time. Shaping for two criteria or aspects of a behavior simultaneously can be very confusing. One click should not mean two different criteria.

 

1. One click should be for one criteria.  That makes sense. And it goes in line with other principles about helping the learner succeed, but not making it confusing.  
2. You need to plan to have single criteria to use as building blocks. 
3. In preparing, try to state it in 5 words to make it memorable to yourself. 
4.  Use positive language, so you know what you want (not what you don't). 
5.  Relax the strictures for other requirements if you're training a new one.  The other will come back quickly after you've trained the new one. 

Outstanding Questions: How many times should you repeat something?  Should the same criteria be used for multiple rewards in a single session?  Or is switching between criteria every C/T OK? 

Modern Principles of Shaping - 2. Ensure success at each step!

I'm writing a 10 part blog post where I discuss the Modern Principles of Shaping by Karen Pryor, to help solidify them in my mind.

2. Ensure success at each step. Break behavior down into small enough pieces that the learner always has a realistic chance to earn a reinforcer.

 

1. Breaking behavior down is one of the main things you need to do before you start (See Principle 1).  But it is applied here so the leaner can always do the request, so they can be rewarded.  
2. I've heard that 80% of the the attempts, the learner should succeed.  And if it is below that threshhold, you should go back a step - relax your requirements.  
3. Remember that a reinforcer can be anything - food, water, play, freedom, etc.  
4. The shaper is the one who determines if the learner gets a reinforcer, and it is up to you to set the learner up for success.