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BACKWORD CHAINING

Forum References FAQ's Quiz Lecture Introduction The backward chaining technique involves the same process as forward chaining, but the teaching process begins at the end of the sequence and moves to the beginning. Backward chaining is used when a student can be taught a task easier from the last step of the task than the first. The student is provided with adult assistance throughout the process until the last step. The student is encouraged to complete the last step alone. If prompts are provided, they are faded as soon as possible so that the last step is independent. When the lasts step is mastered, the student is provided help until she is able to perform the step before the last one. Each step is mastered prior to the final step. The student is completing more and more ending steps independently until she is able to complete without adult assistance.

Example:
Paul is now able to put on all of his clothes independently. He can even put on his shoes, but he is unable to tie them and becomes very frustrated when he attempts the first step. A school teacher suggested a backward chaining technique for Paul to learn to tie his shoes. Paul is reinforced following the dressing task and also when he puts on his shoes. The adult ties the first shoe for Paul except for pulling the laces tight at the end of the sequence. This process is repeated for the other shoe. Paul is reinforced for pulling the laces tight on both shoes. He is not required to do any other step but that one. When Paul demonstrates mastery of that step, he is required to assist with pushing the loop through the hole. Each succeeding step of the shoe-tying sequence would be taught based on completion of the preceding step

The next step would be to teach Paul to put on his socks and then his shirt and shoes. Finally, he would learn to tie his shoes. Then the dressing process would be complete. Since Paul does not know how to button his shirt that could be another chaining process as could tying his shoes.

The shoe-tying task must be analyzed to determine each step in the sequence. If Paul is unable to move from one step to another, the sequence may have to be broken down into even smaller steps until he can complete the sequence successfully.

 

STEPS IN BACKWARD CHAINING

  1. Identify the target behavior
  2. Task analyze the behavior to determine each individual step
  3. Teach and reinforce the last identified step in the skill
  4. Collect data on acquisition of the skill and analyze it for mastery
  5. When the final step is mastered, teach and reinforce the next-to-last step (i.e., or the step before the last step)
  6. As each successive step is mastered, add the previous step in the skill series until the student is able to demonstrate the entire skill without adult support
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