When fading prompts, what should be prioritized?

When fading prompts, prioritizing the offering of varied rewards and support is crucial because it helps maintain motivation and engagement in the learning process. This approach recognizes that learners may respond differently to various forms of reinforcement and that varying the types of support provided can lead to more effective generalization of skills.

By providing a range of rewards and support, you can tailor the learning experience to meet individual needs and preferences, allowing students to learn more flexibly and adaptively. This variability in reinforcement also helps keep the individual motivated, as they may find different rewards more appealing at different times. Thus, it encourages persistence and continued effort, which are key factors in successful learning and skill acquisition.

In contrast, while consistent use of the same prompts can be beneficial for ensuring clarity and familiarity, it may not effectively promote the independence that fading aims to achieve. Strict adherence to a structured schedule might support organization, but it could limit the adaptability needed for effective fading of prompts. Furthermore, minimizing interactions can inhibit learning and the development of communication skills, which are often enhanced through responsive exchanges.