Cooperant Learning Podcast

Cooperant Learning Podcast | Precision Teaching and Measurement of Private Events | Jared Van & Rick Kubina 

CEUs: Sparks Behavioral Services, LLC (ACE #OP-21-0004) is an ACE-approved provider of continuing education units for behavior analysts. You can earn continuing education units (CEUs) for listening to this episode by visiting cooperantlearning.com!

Summary:

00:00 Introduction 

Resources

Measuring Change in Private Events: A Review of Precision Teaching Interventions for Inner Behavior - https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42822-025-00241-5

Jared Van's Website and Standard Acceleration Chart - https://www.jaredvan.com/

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Cooperant Learning Podcast | Mand Modality Preference Assessments | Cynthia Livingston and Alexandra Cicero

CEUs 

Summary

Guests

Alexandra Cicero is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst currently working in the Specialized Behavior Intervention Department (formerly Severe Behavior Department) at the Munroe-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center. She specializes in assessing and treating challenging behavior in individuals diagnosed with autism and other developmental disabilities. Her clinical and research interests include functional communication training (FCT), caregiver training, and mand modality preference. Alexandra is passionate about creating meaningful, individualized treatment plans and collaborating closely with families to promote long-term success across settings. She also enjoys teaching and mentoring future behavior analysts and values creating inclusive, supportive learning environments.

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Summary:

In this conversation, Dr. Ricky Price guests to discuss the critical aspects of transitioning students with disabilities from school to the workforce and where behavior analysis may fit into the mix. We talked about the importance of self-determination, the role of IDEA in transition assessments, and the need for individualized approaches that don't just check a box. Ricky highlights the gaps in training for educators, the necessity for collaboration between behavior analysts and special education professionals, and the importance of teaching self-advocacy skills early and often.

Guests

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It was a privilege to hear Dr. Al Poling discuss his extensive career in behavior analysis and the lessons he's learned along the way. What started as an interview about his work using operant conditioning procedures to train rats to detect mines and TB morphed into more of a career introspective with the lessons Dr. Poling has learned along the way. 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction 

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In this episode of the Cooperant Learning Podcast, we sat down with MtG enthusiast and choice and decision-making expert Dr. Matt Brodhead to discuss what teacher choice and adherence to interventions when challenging behavior is happening in the classroom. Centering the conversation around the research article “Delay Discounting and Teacher Decision‐Making of Behavioral Interventions,”  we discuss and hypothesize why educators often prefer interventions that produce faster, “good-enough” improvements over strategies that may be more effective long-term but take longer to work. Dr. Brodhead explains delay discounting in practical terms, walks through how the Treatment Choice Questionnaire adapts classic discounting measures to classroom behavioral interventions, and explores what the findings suggest about social validity, feasibility, and BCBA collaboration in schools, especially when teachers are juggling limited training in classroom management, scarce resources, and constant outside pressure. We also make sure to touch base on Magic: The Gathering, D&D, and jam bands, because even behavior analysts need hobbies.

Resources:

Cascarilla, A. N., Brodhead, M. T., Cox, D. J., & Sarmiento, C. M. (2025). Delay discounting and teacher decision‐making of behavioral interventions. Behavioral Interventions, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/bin.70058

Listen now:

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/7jEtOKZjbww4TCL9YfOMZF?si=490b8beed95c406b

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cooperant-learning-podcast/id1817490272

▶️ YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@cooperantlearning

🌐 Website → https://www.cooperantlearning.com

Connect with us:

📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/cooperantbx/

🎵 TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@cooperantlearning

📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/people/Cooperant-Learning/61564380433792/?_rdr

Welcome to 2026! In this episode, we dove into the world of behavioral gerontology and behavior analysis with older adults. We’re joined by Dr. Jon Baker who helped break down what behavioral gerontology is, how it’s evolved, and what current research tells us about supporting the aging community in meaningful and effective ways. At the end, Dr. Baker breaks down some actionable steps for behavior analysts who want to break into working with new populations such as the aging community.

What really stood out in this discussion is how hopeful this work can be. Even later in life, behavior is still functional, learning is still possible, and individualized, compassionate interventions can make a real difference. This episode is about seeing aging not as a closed door, but as a stage of life where thoughtful behavioral support still matters.

Chapters

Our Guest:

Prior to joining WMU, he was an associate professor and coordinator of the gerontology certificate program, as well as a faculty member in the behavior analysis and therapy program in the Rehabilitation Institute at Southern Illinois University. He received a certificate in gerontology from the University of Kansas and is a Doctoral level Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D).

Baker is on the editorial board for the Analysis of Verbal Behavior and Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice. He has served as a guest Action Editor for TAVB and the Psychological Record, and serves as a guest reviewer for the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, the Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, The Behavior Analyst, Behavior Analysis in Practice, The Psychological Record and The American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease & Other Dementias.

He is also the former president of the Mid-American Association of Behavior Analysis, former chair of the Behavioral Gerontology Special Interest Group with ABAI, and is on the Board of Directors for the Behavior Analyst Certification Board.

Resources:

Behavioral gerontology at home: Retaining self-care skills in an older adult with major neurocognitive disorder through stimulus control and subtle prompt hierarchies from spousal caregiver. 

Expanding the Consumer Base for Behavior-Analytic Services: Meeting the Needs of Consumers in the 21st Century

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Keywords

behavior analysis, micro-credentials, education, BCBA, training, professional development, instructional design, ABA

Summary

In this conversation, Dr. Kent Johnson discusses the evolution of competence in behavior analysis, emphasizing the need for a new approach to training and professional development. He introduces the concept of micro-credentials as a way to demonstrate mastery of specific skills, comparing and contrasting it with traditional CEUs. The discussion highlights the importance of maintaining scientific principles in the field while adapting to the changing landscape of education and practice. Johnson advocates for a grassroots approach to developing micro-credentials, aiming to enhance the relevance and effectiveness of professional development in behavior analysis.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Competence in Behavior Analysis

11:29 The Evolution of Behavior Analysis

17:06 Understanding Micro-Credentials

39:06 Micro-Credentials in Practice

55:48 Future of Micro-Credentials and CEUs

Guest

Dr. Kent Johnson:

Founder and Executive Director, Morningside Academy, Seattle, Washington, 1980 to 2023 Founder and Executive Director Emeritus, 2023 into the future

• Morningside operates a scientifically driven “catch up” school, with a program for children and youth with learning and attention problems, and a “get ahead” program for average and above-average middle school youth.

• Morningside Academy’s procedures have been formalized as The Morningside Model of Generative Instruction (MMGI), including instructional design, classroom management, teaching procedures, and student and program evaluation procedures.

Founder and Director, Morningside Teachers’ Academy, Seattle, Washington, 1990 to present Founder and Executive Director Emeritus, 2023 into the future

• Morningside is also an international center for teacher education and coaching, internships, and instructional design training. We focus upon reading, mathematics, writing, thinking, reasoning, problem-solving and organizational skills. We have implemented MMGI in 142 schools, school districts, agencies, and businesses throughout the United States and Canada since 1991. Morningside hosts an annual Morningside Summer Institute (MSI), as well as school-year trainings. See our website, www.morningsideacademy.org for details.

Author and Publisher, Morningside Press, Seattle, WA, 1990 to present

• Morningside is also a laboratory for developing instructional methods and instructional materials.

• We have published 34 instructional programs, including scripted instruction, frequency building practice exercises, and procedures for classroom implementation in reading, writing, and mathematics

President-Elect, Association for Behavior Analysis International, 2023-24 President, Association for Behavior Analysis International, 2024-2025 President, Society for Behavior Analysis, 2025-2026 (the not-for-profit arm of ABAI)

Further reading: Oregon State University: What is a micro-credential? https://ecampus.oregonstate.edu/news/what-is-a-microcredential/

Education Week: This Teacher PD Approach Has Spread to More Than 30 States https://www.edweek.org/leadership/this-teacher-pd-approach-has-spread-to-more-than-30-states/2025/05

Listen now:

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/7jEtOKZjbww4TCL9YfOMZF?si=490b8beed95c406b

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cooperant-learning-podcast/id1817490272

▶️ YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@cooperantlearning

🌐 Website → https://www.cooperantlearning.com

Connect with us:

📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/cooperantbx/

🎵 TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@cooperantlearning

📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/people/Cooperant-Learning/61564380433792/?_rdr

Keywords

behavior analysis, parenting, parent coaching, Mandy Grass, family behaviorist, ABA, behavior management, parenting challenges, mental health

Kyle and Dr. Sparks welcome Mandy Grass, a BCBA and parent coach known as  @thefamilybehaviorist  on social media. They discuss Mandy's journey into behavior analysis, the challenges of parenting, and the importance of making behavior analysis accessible to all parents. Mandy shares her insights on making ABA relatable, navigating conflicting information online, and real-world applications of behavior analysis in parenting. The conversation emphasizes empathy, understanding, and practical strategies for parents facing everyday challenges.

Guest

Mandy Grass is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), parent coach, and mother of three. With over a decade of experience in education and behavior analysis, she began her career as a special education teacher supporting students with significant behavioral needs before becoming a BCBA in 2015. Since then, Mandy has worked with hundreds of families and school districts to teach evidence-based strategies that help children thrive at home and in the classroom. She’s also built a community of nearly 700,000 people on social media, where she shares real-life, practical tools (and a healthy dose of humor) to make parenting feel a little lighter and a lot more doable.

Check out Mandy on TikTok and Instagram: @thefamilybehaviorist and at her website thefamilybehaviorist.com.

Listen now:

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/7jEtOKZjbww4TCL9YfOMZF?si=490b8beed95c406b

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cooperant-learning-podcast/id1817490272

▶️ YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@cooperantlearning

🌐 Website → https://www.cooperantlearning.com

Connect with us:

📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/cooperantbx/

🎵 TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@cooperantlearning

📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/people/Cooperant-Learning/61564380433792/?_rdr

Keywords

behavior analysis, synchronous reinforcement, adult participants, health-related behaviors, staff training, research, applied behavior analysis, reinforcement schedules, clinical environments, behavior modification

Summary

Dr. Claudia Dozier and Dr. Katie McHugh discuss their research on synchronous reinforcement schedules and their application in promoting tolerance of health-related routines for adults with disabilities. The conversation covers the shift in behavior analytic research towards adult participants, the challenges of implementing synchronous schedules, and the importance of staff training in applied settings. Our guests share insights on the effectiveness of their methods, modifications made during their study, and future directions for research in this area.

Guests

Dr. Katie McHugh is a Board Certified and Licensed Behavior Analyst with over a decade of experience serving individuals with developmental disabilities across clinical, academic, and research settings. She earned her Ph.D. in Behavioral Psychology from the University of Kansas under the mentorship of Dr. Claudia Dozier, following two graduate degrees in Applied Disability Studies with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis from Brock University. Katie currently serves as the Clinical Director at Atlas Autism Health, where she leads clinical programming and staff development initiatives. Her research focuses on tolerance-building interventions, health-related routines, and reinforcement-based strategies for individuals with disabilities.

Dr. Dozier is Professor and Chair of the Applied Behavioral Science Department at the University of Kansas. Her research has been conducted in the clinical environments in which she and her doctoral students work (early childhood environments as well as adult service environments)---it spans both translational and applied research and across the lifespan on topics such as assessment, treatment, and prevention of behavior disorders; classroom behavior management; staff training; schedules of reinforcement; and preference and reinforcer efficacy.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

02:54 Introducing Guests and Research

05:53 The Shift to Adult Participants in Research

11:49 Health-Related Behaviors in Research

14:53 Understanding Synchronous Schedules of Reinforcement

17:52 Comparing Synchronous and Conjugate Schedules

20:53 Applications of Synchronous Schedules in Behavior Analysis

23:48 Challenges in Implementing Synchronous Schedules

26:45 Exploring Response Cost and Reinforcement

29:55 Staff Training and Implementation Challenges

32:52 Comparing Synchronous Schedules to Graduated Exposure

35:49 Modifications and Successes in the Study

38:42 Future Directions and Ongoing Research

41:44 Concluding Thoughts and Future Research Directions

Listen now:

🎧 Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/7jEtOKZjbww4TCL9YfOMZF?si=490b8beed95c406b

🍎 Apple Podcasts → https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cooperant-learning-podcast/id1817490272

▶️ YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@cooperantlearning

🌐 Website → https://www.cooperantlearning.com

Connect with us: 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/cooperantbx/

🎵 TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@cooperantlearning

📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/people/Cooperant-Learning/61564380433792/?_rdr

Connect with our guests

Atlas Autism Health: https://www.atlasautismhealth.com/

Dozier lab website: https://dozierresearchlab.weebly.com/

KU ABS website: https://absc.ku.edu/

Dr. Dozier ABS website: https://absc.ku.edu/people/claudia-dozier

Social media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherinelmchugh/

https://www.facebook.com/DepartmentOfAppliedBehavioralScience

https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4157382/

Keywords

Morningside Academy, education, behavior analysis, generative instruction, standardized testing, precision teaching, educational practices, teaching strategies, student growth

Takeaways

Summary

Kyle and Andrew Kieta, Executive Director at Morningside Academy, discuss the innovative practices at Morningside Academy, a school designed for students who struggle in traditional educational settings. Andrew shares insights into the academy's philosophy, the importance of behavior analysis in education, and the effectiveness of precision teaching. They also explore the role of standardized testing, the challenges educators face, and actionable steps for improving educational practices.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Cooperant Learning Podcast

01:48 The Journey to Morningside Academy

04:49 Understanding Morningside Academy's Philosophy

07:40 The Learning Guarantee and Student Growth

10:43 Behavior Analysis in Education

13:36 Standardized Testing and Its Implications

16:46 Precision Teaching and the Standard Acceleration Chart

24:27 Fluent Behaviors and Real-World Application

27:04 Challenges in Educational Systems

28:50 The Importance of Homogeneous Achievement Grouping

33:33 Coaching and Active Learning in Education

35:14 Project Follow Through and Its Impact

39:05 Global Educational Initiatives and Collaborations

41:49 Actionable Steps for Educators and Policymakers