How To: Token Economies
(slide 1 – How To: Token Economies)
(slide 2 – Token Economies)
Welcome to the How To series. The topic for this How To is token economies. You will see examples of token economies used with students.
(slide 3 – Reinforcement)
Reinforcement is important for students with ASD and is one type of consequence that can be provided, or delivered, when teaching. Simply put, reinforcement is anything that increases the chance a desired behavior will occur again. When used effectively, reinforcement can positively influence a student’s behavior and help teach vital skills. Using reinforcement can encourage and motivate a student to keep learning. There are many different types of reinforcers that we can use with a student including token reinforcers.
(slide 4 – Token Economies)
Token reinforcers are especially important because there are times when providing an immediate reinforcer isn’t always possible. Think of a token economy as an exchange system. A token economy simply allows a student to earn their reinforcer over a long stretch of time. A token board allows a student to see their progress of earning a reinforcer and gives them a sense of what they are doing right. Tokens can be anything from paper money to poker chips, to stickers, to tally marks, to Velcro pictures of the skill on a token board. No matter the token used, these tokens must lead to a bigger reinforcer to be effective. Finally, remember that while tokens are a great tool, they are also abstract and a student will have to be taught how to use a token board. A good way to begin using tokens is by giving the token followed by access to the desired reinforce immediately. Gradually you can build up the student to doing a longer task or multiple tasks before earning the token.
(slide 5 – Token Economies Example)
Let’s look at an example of a token board for a student. As you can see, this token board depicts that a student will sit in his desk. For this student, every five minutes that he sits at his desk, he receives a token. The token board shows that when the student earns all five tokens, he will receive access to a favorite toy. Token boards can always be individualized and based on a student’s interests such as using trains, cars, or other topics and items.
(slide6 – Video Examples)
In these next videos, you will see some examples of token economies being used in the classroom. Remember to look for the type of token economy being used with the student and watch for the student’s response.
(video example 1)
Teacher: Hi! Do this (arms ups). Nice work! Try this one (clapping). Nice! Here’s a token. (gives him pen) Just one! Oh man, nice work! Let’s watch a… let’s watch a … (rubbing hands together) movie. Let’s watch a movie. Nice job! Let’s watch a movie. High five! Thank you, get another token! Oh thanks, way to go! Noah! (rubbing shoulders) What did you earn? Thank you! Pop!
Student: Pop!
Teacher: Pop popcorn!
(video example 2)
Teacher: Give yourself a token, bud! One more token and we get the chalkboard! Hang on, Cayden! Find the marker. (puts down a selection of objects) You found the marker. Look! (gives him Elmo token) You got your last Elmo. One, two, three Elmo’s… what’d you get?
Student: Chalk!
Teacher: Chalk! Let’s go get the chalk! Chalkboard. Look, you can draw all sorts of things on the chalkboard.
Student: Chalk.
Teacher: Chalk!
(video example 3)
Teacher: Hey, you did such a good job getting off of the computer lab you can get a token as soon as we choose something new. Alright, you want to work the ipod man? Great! And there’s a token for listening so great. Alright, we’re going to earn the rest of your nine tokens for the ipod. Ready bud?Alright? We’re going to start by doing a little bit of matching. Alright kiddo, match!
Student: (matches) Yay!
Teacher: Great job! Put with the same.
Student: (student matches card)
Teacher: Great job! Match.
Student: (student matches card)
Teacher: Excellent. Get a token man.
(slide 7 – Video Review)
As you can see, there are many different ways of using a token economy with a student. In all the videos, you should have noticed that the teacher provided the student with a token reinforcer, and that the token economy helped the student be successful.
(slide 8 - Review)
Now that you have seen some examples of token economies, remember : Reinforcement is important for students with ASD. There are many different types of reinforcers that we can use with a student, including token reinforcers. Token reinforcers are especially important because there are times when providing an immediate reinforcer isn’t always possible. Token economies allow a student to see their progress toward earning a reinforcer over time. Tokens can be anything from paper money, to poker chips, to pictures, to tally marks. No matter the token used, these tokens must lead to a bigger reinforcer in order to be effective. Finally, remember that while tokens are a great tool, they are also abstract and may need to be introduced slowly and taught over time.
(slide 9 – For More Information)