ABA Exam CoachLessons · G. Behavior-Change Procedures
G.12 · Forward, backward, and total-task chaining
Tying shoes, brushing teeth, and making toast are all chains of steps. Today we'll sort out the three ways to teach a chain, so you can tell which one a vignette describes in a few seconds.
Key takeaway
Start with a task analysis, then assess which steps the learner can already do. Forward chaining teaches the first step first. Backward chaining teaches the last step first, so the learner's own response produces the terminal reinforcer on every trial. Total-task chaining has the learner attempt every step on every trial, with prompts as needed.
Start with a task analysis, then assess which steps the learner can already do. Forward chaining teaches the first step first. Backward chaining teaches the last step first, so the learner's own response produces the terminal reinforcer on every trial. Total-task chaining has the learner attempt every step on every trial, with prompts as needed.
Members get the full lesson video, notes and a 5-question test
The video walks through the idea, worked examples, the trap people fall into and an exam-style question. The notes and the checkpoint come with it, and your results feed your Where to focus plan.