c a variety of means of support and of study.
In open learning individuals are encouraged to take responsibility for the
direction, content, and process of their own learning.open pairs
seeclosed pairs
open set n
another term for open class
open syllable n
see syllable
open vowel n
also low vowel
see vowel
operant n
see operant conditioning
operant conditioning n
a learning theory proposed by Skinner within the context of behaviourist
psychology (seebehaviourism). It is a type of conditioning (see condi-
tioned response) in which a child learning its first language produces an
action (e.g. an utterance) that achieves some outcome (e.g. to get food).
This action is called the operant. The outcome is positively reinforced
(positive reinforcement) if the operant is followed by something pleasant,
and negatively reinforced (negative reinforcement) if it is followed by the
removal of something unpleasant. This concept was influential during the
heyday of the audiolingual method.
operating principle n
see heuristic
operational definition n operationalize v
a definition of a concept in terms which can be observed and measured.
In language teaching and language testing, many linguistic concepts need
to be operationalized. For example, terms such as “competence” and
“proficiency” need to be operationalized in preparing programme goals,
objectives, and test items.
operational definition