Which technique describes teaching the steps one at a time in the same order as they occur naturally?

Which technique describes teaching the steps one at a time in the same order as they occur naturally?

• A. Backward chaining
• B. Forward chaining
• C. Total task chaining
• D. Discrete trial teaching

Answer: (B)

Forward chaining focuses on teaching a multi-step task in the exact order those steps occur, starting with the first action and adding the next steps one by one as each is mastered. This mirrors how the task unfolds in real life, so the learner builds a smooth, continuous sequence and gains confidence as early steps are completed successfully. By progressively introducing each subsequent step after the previous one is solid, the learner practices the whole chain in a natural progression and tends to retain the routine better. The other approaches differ in key ways: backward chaining begins with the final step and works backward, which disrupts the natural order and can make the overall sequence feel less predictable; total task chaining attempts the entire task at once, which can be overwhelming for some learners; discrete trial teaching is a method for delivering instruction with discrete trials and prompts, not a description of the order in which steps are taught.

Forward chaining focuses on teaching a multi-step task in the exact order those steps occur, starting with the first action and adding the next steps one by one as each is mastered. This mirrors how the task unfolds in real life, so the learner builds a smooth, continuous sequence and gains confidence as early steps are completed successfully. By progressively introducing each subsequent step after the previous one is solid, the learner practices the whole chain in a natural progression and tends to retain the routine better.

The other approaches differ in key ways: backward chaining begins with the final step and works backward, which disrupts the natural order and can make the overall sequence feel less predictable; total task chaining attempts the entire task at once, which can be overwhelming for some learners; discrete trial teaching is a method for delivering instruction with discrete trials and prompts, not a description of the order in which steps are taught.