ABSTRACT
This study examined the impact of reinforcement skills in facilitating effective learning in special need children (Dyslexia) in Edo State.To guide the study, four research questions were raised and answered.
Relevant literatures were reviewed under different subheadings. The descriptive survey research design was adopted. The population of study was teachers in special education schools in oredo local government area of Edo state and the questionnaire which was validated and found reliable by experts was used to collect data. The data collected were analysed using simple percentage.
The findings of this study revealed that praise, giving of rewards and freedom of learning are some of the reinforcement skills employed by teachers. The findings revealed that reinforcement skills contribute to a large extent in eliciting desired learning behaviour from dyslexic children and boost their self-confidence. This study affirmed that reinforcement when use effectively can promote academic performance of dyslexic by managing their behaviour helping them to maintain a positive attitude to learning. However, the findings revealed that the impacts of reinforcement skills is challenged by a number of factors like overfamiliarity with a particular reinforcement skill, high cost of reinforcement and teacher's competency in identifying and usage of right reinforcement skill.
Based on these findings, the researcher recommended that teachers be trained on how to identify dyslexic children and the different types of reinforcement applicable, teachers should further be trained on how to use, when to use and on whom to use a particular reinforcement skills, and education planners should make provision for learning materials that will these children to learn at their own pace.
