Training and Training

I have recently been trying to focus on our behavioural management program at work so that I can get my whistle and start learning how to train behaviours with our animals. This is a really essential part of zookeeping because the behaviours are for medical care, or enrichment and they give us a way to really communicate with the animals in our care and I'm really excited to start learning more about it.

In reading through our written documents and doing coursework I have noticed several connections to kung fu and I wanted to explore them in a blog.

1) behaviours are altered by the consequences that follow them -> this is why it is so important that we pay attention in our training, because if we're not improving our technique with every repetition this will alter the course of our trajectory. We want to ensure we are creating a positive experience (i.e. progress) so that we are motivated to continue to pursue it 

2) Successive Approximations: small steps that move in the direction of a desired behaviour -> this is how we train, not by aiming for the "finish line" but by incrementally improving, making sure we are not moving on before we have a solid understanding of where we are

3) Regression: this is part of the learning curve ->  a valuable reminder and something important to recognize 

4) Abstract Learning: 2 separate concepts are put together for the first time to form a new idea or behavior; not shaping it is actual teaching. -> This one really struck me because it reinforces the idea that as instructors, what we are doing in class when we are demonstrating techniques or correcting things, is closer to shaping, and the actually teaching is done by the students. It comes internally from them, not externally from us, putting together the concepts for themselves, that is true learning. 

Just like we use the five animals as a symbol of our kung fu, I am realizing there are more aspects of the animal world that can provide great insight and wisdom to training and teaching!

	Current Total	Should Be At
Push-ups	10095	14657
Sit-Ups	7198	14657
Hand Form	108	271
Weapon Form	72	271
Other Forms	37	95
Sparring	74	271
AOK	188	271
Steps	774	421
Repair Relationship	1	4
Me and White Supremacy	6	7
12 Applications	0	4
1-on-1's	8	14
Kung Fu Art	0	4
Blogs	11	14