Errorless learning
Teaching arranged with prompts and careful fading so that the learner makes few or no errors while acquiring a new skill.
In errorless learning, also called errorless teaching, the learner is given enough help from the start that correct responses are very likely, and the help is then removed in small enough steps that errors stay rare. The aim is not that errors never happen, but that they are minimized.
Common errorless methods include most-to-least prompting, time delay starting at 0 seconds (the prompt is given immediately with the SD), stimulus fading and stimulus shaping. In each case, the prompt comes before the learner has a chance to make a mistake, and it is faded gradually.
Reducing errors has several benefits. The learner does not practice wrong responses, receives more reinforcement, and is less likely to show frustration or problem behavior during teaching. Errorless learning is often used for new skills and for learners with a history of problem behavior when errors occur.
The main risk is prompt dependence if fading is too slow. Errorless teaching is not the same as giving the answer forever; it is a planned route to independent responding. If errors do occur, the RBT uses the plan's error correction procedure.
Example and non-example
| Example | When teaching a child to touch the picture of a car, the RBT says "Touch car" and immediately points to it (0-second delay). After several sessions, the RBT waits 3 seconds before pointing, giving the child a chance to respond alone. |
|---|---|
| Non-example | The RBT presents the instruction and lets the child guess, correcting only after a wrong answer. That relies on error correction rather than errorless teaching. |
Don't confuse it with
| Error correction | Error correction responds after an error; errorless learning arranges prompts to prevent errors. |
|---|---|
| Least-to-most prompting | Least-to-most lets the learner try first and may allow errors; errorless methods give help before an error can occur. |
Test yourself
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Question 1For a new target, a plan uses errorless teaching with a 0-second prompt delay. When should the RBT give the prompt?
Show answer
A: At the same time as the instruction, or immediately after it. A 0-second prompt delay means the prompt comes right with the instruction, so the client responds correctly from the start. The delay is increased later as the plan directs.
- B: Waiting before prompting is a later step in time delay, not a 0-second delay.
- C: Prompting after errors is error correction; errorless teaching prompts before an error can happen.
- D: The prompt is given with the instruction once the client is attending, or it will not help.
Task C.3 · 40-hour curriculum section E
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Question 2Why is most-to-least prompting often chosen when teaching a brand-new skill?
Show answer
B: It gives enough help from the start to keep errors low. Starting with a prompt that reliably produces the correct response keeps errors low while the skill is new. Help is then reduced step by step as the learner succeeds.
- A: That describes least-to-most prompting.
- C: Prompts given in most-to-least prompting must still be faded.
- D: Most-to-least prompting often starts with physical prompts; it is not limited to verbal ones.
Task C.7 · 40-hour curriculum section E
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Question 3What is the main goal of errorless learning procedures?
Show answer
B: To arrange prompts so the learner makes few or no errors while learning. Errorless learning gives prompts early, often immediately after the instruction or with the most helpful prompt first, so that the learner contacts reinforcement for correct responses and rarely practices errors. The prompts are then faded.
- A: That is trial-and-error teaching with correction, the approach errorless procedures are designed to avoid.
- C: Withholding reinforcement after errors is extinction; errorless procedures try to prevent errors from happening.
- D: Errorless learning depends on prompts given early enough to prevent errors, which are then faded.
Task C.7 · 40-hour curriculum section E
Answer every question to see your score.
On the RBT exam
This term belongs to task C.7 Prompting and prompt fading in content area C, Behavior Acquisition, which is 19 of the 75 scored questions.