During which phase should stimulus and response prompts mainly be used?

Using stimulus and response prompts primarily during the acquisition phase is essential because this phase focuses on teaching new behaviors or skills to the learner. The acquisition phase is characterized by introducing the learner to new information or actions, where prompts play a crucial role in guiding them toward the correct behavior.

Stimulus prompts help in highlighting specific cues or signals that trigger a response, while response prompts aid in reinforcing the correct action until the learner can perform it independently. The use of these prompts is key to shaping and enhancing learning, as they provide the necessary support to encourage the learner to make connections and understand the task at hand.

In contrast, during the maintenance phase, the focus is on ensuring that previously learned skills are retained and performed consistently, which typically requires less prompting. The generalization phase aims to apply learned skills in various settings or contexts, relying on the learner’s ability to transfer what they have learned without additional prompts. The assessment phase evaluates the learner's understanding and skill acquisition, where prompts are less relevant since the goal is to measure performance rather than actively teach.