An introduction to PORTL: The Portable Operant Research and Teaching Lab
By Mary Hunter and Dr. Jesús Rosales-Ruiz
Have you heard about PORTL?
The Portable Operant Research and Teaching Lab (PORTL) is a tabletop shaping game that teaches individuals about behavior and shaping. Through playing the game, individuals get to see the principles of behavior in action and practice applying those principles to change behavior.
(PORTL now has it’s own website! To learn more, visit behaviorexplorer.com)
Where did PORTL come from?
PORTL had its beginnings in another tabletop shaping game, called GENABACAB, which was developed by English dog trainer Kay Laurence. Kay developed GENABACAB and a series of GENABACAB exercises as a way to teach her students about the basics of shaping and to improve their timing and observation skills.