What should skill acquisition targets always include to ensure effective teaching?

Skill acquisition targets must always include a fade plan to ensure effective teaching because a fade plan is essential for gradually decreasing support as a learner becomes more proficient. This gradual reduction allows learners to develop independence in their skills over time. A well-structured fade plan specifies how and when support will be lessened, providing a clear method for transitioning the learner towards independent performance.

Having a fade plan is critical for promoting generalization of skills across different contexts and for ensuring that the learner can utilize the skills in real-world situations without constant prompting or assistance. It helps in creating lasting behavioral changes by teaching learners to use skills independently rather than relying indefinitely on prompts or direct assistance from the instructor.

Other concepts such as reinforcement schedules, error analysis, and behavioral contracts can complement the teaching process, but they do not serve the primary purpose of ensuring that learners can apply their skills independently, which is the main objective of a fade plan in skill acquisition.