Essential Reading
Read this comprehensive guide from Jigsaw Training introducing the concept of Shaping in ABA, including step-by-step procedures, examples, and guidance on using shaping effectively in practice:
Essential Video
In this video from Hacking ABA, Romina Martinez summarizes how shaping procedures can be used in practice. The relevant section begins at 4:50:
Optional Videos
This Khan Academy video explains shaping using the example of teaching someone to do a handstand:
Khanacademymedicina (2021). Operant Conditioning: Shaping. YouTube
This historical video from the 1960s shows how shaping was used to teach a child with an intellectual disability to walk. Note: The video contains outdated and offensive language, and the methods do not reflect contemporary ABA ethical standards. Nonetheless, it provides a valuable illustration of the shaping process:
Conversation Exercise
Complete the Conversation Exercise with FRED, our AI-powered chatbot to consolidate your understanding of shaping through guided discussion.
Click for instructions on accessing and using FRED
Click the conversation icon in the bottom right corner of your screen, or open FRED directly here.
For guidance on using FRED effectively, read our instructions here.
Reflection Exercise
After completing the reading, video(s), and conversation exercise, reflect on your learning using the prompts below. Your reflection should be:
- Between 100 and 500 words (about 5–7 sentences minimum)
- Written in your preferred language
- Expressed in your own words — do not copy text from chatbots, websites, or this course
You’ll receive an email copy of your reflection to support your RBT exam preparation.
Click to view Reflection Prompts & Example
Reflection Prompts (use one or more):
- Summarize Key Concepts: What is shaping and how is it used to teach new behaviors?
- Define in Your Own Words: How would you explain successive approximations to someone unfamiliar with ABA?
- Importance and Connections: Why is shaping particularly important when a learner does not already perform the target behavior?
- Practical Applications: Think of a real-world example where shaping might help teach a complex behavior.
- Insights: Did anything about the historical example or other demonstrations of shaping surprise you?
Example Reflection:
Watching the videos really helped me understand how shaping builds complex behaviors from simpler ones. The historical video was especially interesting, even though the language used was outdated and offensive — it showed me how shaping can be used for significant skills like walking. In my work, I can see how shaping would be useful for teaching verbal behavior — starting from a sound, then a syllable, then the full word. I hadn’t appreciated before how much shaping we do naturally without realizing it. The idea of reinforcing successive approximations makes more sense to me now, and I’ll think more systematically about when to apply it with learners who don’t yet have the target skill at all.
When you’re ready, submit your reflection below:
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