With TAGteach we use the tag as a marker to tell the learner “Yes! That was right”. The tag is most commonly a short sharp sound as you have seen in the various videos we have shown in this webinar series.

Other stimuli such as a flash of light, a touch or a word can also be used. I believe that the sound marker is best for children with autism since it gest past their sensory issues. We discussed this in the question and answer session in Webinar #2 if you would like to hear more on this topic.

The tag starts off as a neutral, meaningless sound and only gains reinforcing power once it becomes associated with something that the child already likes. Once the tag  becomes associated with a primary reinforcer (like food, drink or toys) it gains reinforcing power.

For example if you tag and then give a candy each time, soon the tag will signal to the child that the candy is on the way. The tag itself will be associated with the good feelings that come with getting a candy.  Once this happens, the tag has become a conditioned reinforcer. It now has the power to reinforce because it has become associated with the good things that will follow it.

Having a conditioned reinforcer is very useful, because it allows us to tag behavior the moment it happens, even from some distance away and it gives us a degree of precision, consistency and clarity that we cannot get by using a reinforcer such as food, toys or praise alone.