What should be faded across trials in errorless teaching?

In errorless teaching, fading the prompts across trials is essential because it helps learners gradually become more independent in demonstrating the target behavior. This strategy aims to minimize the chances of errors during the learning process, which can encourage confidence and secure skill acquisition.

By systematically reducing the level of assistance provided through prompts, instructors can allow learners to rely on their understanding rather than on external cues. Initially, strong prompts ensure that the learner can successfully engage with the task without making mistakes. As the learner becomes familiar with the behavior, the instructor can decrease the level of prompting, leading to the learner being able to perform the behavior independently.

Fading prompts in this manner capitalizes on the principles of behavior change and learning, as it emphasizes mastery and confidence building while minimizing frustration or confusion that may arise from making errors. This approach effectively enhances the overall learning experience and promotes long-term skill retention.