http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtfQlkGwE2U
Skinner Box
B.F. Skinner developed several devices where animals would learn that a certain behavior or response would get them a desired reward, which was usually food. He develop several so called, "Skinner Boxes". Each of the devices operated a little differently, but all were used to test and prove his theory of operant conditioning. Rats were used in his earliest versions of the "Skinner Box". One of the boxes demonstrated how a rat learned to carry a marble and drop it in a tube to release food. In another "Skinner Box" the rat learned that by stepping a lever food was released. The rat continued to step on the lever to get the desired reward. The rat had learned a certain behavior or respose would get the desire response that it wanted (Elliot, 2013). Skinner also began to use pigeons in his experiments. One "Skinner Box" taught the pigeons that pecking a colored disk a certain among of times would result in food being dropped into a chute (Skinner, 2013)
Teaching Machine
Skinner also applied his theory of operant conditioning to education where he developed the idea of programmed instruction. He believed that there should be immediate praise or feedback for correct answers. If students get the answers wrong, they could immediately go back and see why they missed the answers and make corrections. The immediate feedback would motivate students to learn and would lead to a better education. The "teaching machine" that Skinner invented applied the principles of programmed instruction (McNeil, 2013) Students could go through a "self-pacing" instructional program. Even though Skinner "teaching machine" never got widespread use or acceptance in the educational field, comparisons can be made to "self-pacing" computer learning programs used in schools today (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2013).
Air Crib/Baby Box
Skinner not only developed a device for lab experiments and education, but he also tried to develop a more practical device for use at home. The "air crib" was a climate "controlled enviromental chamber for infants" (Elliot, 2013). The idea was that the infants could spend extended amounts of time in the the "air crib' and would be stimulated by objects hanging in the crib. Because the box is climate controlled, the infant would have no need for clothes or blankets. The infants could also sleep without the problem of waking up due to hot or cold temperatures. Skinner tested the box using his younger daughter (Skinner, 2013).