Social Proof--Negative or Postive (Guest Post from Bryan Harris)

One of Eye on Education's other authors, Bryan Harris, is a great resource for classroom management and engagement.  Here's a sample: 

Social proof is the tendency of individuals to look to others' behavior to help determine their own behavior. When we see others doing something or taking a course of action, it has tremendous influence in our own decision-making process. We see examples of social proof around us every day. Most of us want to see the latest movie everyone is talking about and drive with the flow of traffic regardless of the posted speed limit.

As educators, we sometimes resort to the use of negative social proof in an attempt to guide and influence student behavior. We lecture classes about missing homework, coming to class late, uncooperative behavior, or apathetic attitudes. We do this in an attempt to clarify right from wrong and acceptable from unacceptable. However, the practice of highlighting the negative behavior of a few students can actually backfire.

For the rest of the blog (thanks to ASCD), click here!
Bryan Harris is director of professional development for the Casa Grande Elementary School District in Arizona. He is the author of Battling Boredom. More information can be found at http://www.bryan-harris.com.