Final answer:
Fading with least to most prompting starts with minimal assistance, increasing as needed, while fading with most to least prompting starts with full assistance, decreasing as the student becomes more skilled. These educational strategies are used to teach new skills, ultimately aiming to foster independence in the learner.
Step-by-step explanation:
Within the realm of education, particularly special education and behavioral therapy, fading with least to most prompting and fading with most to least prompting are two strategies used to teach new skills. Fading with least to most prompting involves starting with the minimal amount of assistance and gradually increasing only if the student is unable to perform the task. In contrast, fading with most to least prompting starts with providing a high level of assistance and gradually reducing support as the student gains competence.
For example, when teaching a child how to tie their shoes, a teacher using least to most prompting might first allow the student to try on their own, provide verbal prompts if needed, and finally use a physical guide as necessary. On the other hand, using most to least prompting, the teacher might begin by physically guiding the student's hands to tie the shoe and gradually reduce assistance, eventually moving to verbal prompts until the child can independently tie their shoes.
The choice between these two methods depends on the specific needs and abilities of the student, as well as the goal of instruction. Both strategies are used to promote independence and lessen the student's reliance on the instructor's help.