What is Natural Environment Teaching (NET) in ABA?
Natural Environment Teaching (NET) is a teaching strategy used in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy that focuses on teaching skills within the natural context or environment where the learner would typically use those skills. NET is designed to be more flexible and spontaneous than traditional, structured teaching methods, and it capitalizes on the learner’s natural interests and interactions. In ABA, the goal of NET is to make learning more engaging, functional, and meaningful by embedding learning opportunities into everyday activities and routines.
Unlike more traditional, discrete trial teaching (DTT) methods, which often occur in a controlled setting like a therapy room, NET takes place in real-life environments, such as at home, in school, or in the community. This allows for the natural generalization of skills because learners are practicing them in the same environments where they will need to use them.
Table of Contents
Key Principles of Natural Environment Teaching (NET)
1. Learner-Led and Interest-Based
- One of the central tenets of NET is that learning is initiated by the learner’s interests. The therapist or teacher follows the learner’s lead, using whatever the learner is engaged in as the focal point of the lesson. This increases motivation and reduces resistance to learning by making the activities fun and meaningful. Example: If a child shows interest in playing with building blocks, the therapist might use that moment to teach colors, counting, or turn-taking, all within the context of the child’s play.
2. Natural Context
- NET occurs in the natural environment where the skill is likely to be used. This could be the home, a park, a classroom, or any other setting where the learner typically interacts. By teaching in these environments, the learner gets to practice skills in the situations where they will need them most. Example: Teaching a learner to request water at the dinner table instead of in a therapy room helps ensure that the skill will be generalized and transferred to real-life situations.
3. Use of Natural Reinforcement
- In NET, reinforcement is more natural and directly related to the desired behavior. Instead of using artificial rewards like tokens or stickers, the reinforcement is built into the activity. This means that the learner gets what they want or need as a result of their behavior. Example: If a learner asks for a toy car correctly, the reinforcement might be playing with the car, which is the natural consequence of the request.
4. Functional and Generalizable Skills
- NET focuses on teaching functional skills, which are skills that will be used consistently in real-life situations. Because skills are taught in the contexts where they will naturally occur, they are more likely to generalize to other similar situations. Example: Teaching a child to ask for help when they can’t open a jar during snack time ensures the skill is useful in everyday life.
5. Incorporation of Multiple Teaching Opportunities
- In NET, learning opportunities aren’t limited to formal teaching sessions. Instead, teaching happens throughout the day as situations arise naturally. This means that teaching can happen during play, meals, or even during transitions from one activity to the next. Example: A therapist can work on language development by labeling items during mealtime, such as asking the learner to name foods, utensils, or describe what they are eating.
Components of Natural Environment Teaching (NET)
1. Motivational Operations (MO)
- In NET, motivation is key. Therapists use what is called motivational operations (MO) to increase the likelihood of a desired behavior. MOs are factors that make a certain reinforcement more or less valuable to the learner. By identifying what the learner is motivated by (e.g., a favorite toy, snack, or activity), therapists can create opportunities for the learner to request or engage with that item or activity. Example: If a learner is thirsty, the therapist can use the learner’s motivation (wanting water) to teach the learner how to ask for water.
2. Capturing and Contriving Learning Opportunities
- NET involves both capturing and contriving teaching moments:
- Capturing is when the therapist takes advantage of naturally occurring moments of interest or need.
- Contriving is when the therapist creates situations that encourage the learner to use a new skill.
3. Prompting and Fading
- In NET, therapists use prompting to help the learner respond appropriately, but they also work to fade those prompts over time so the learner can perform the skill independently. The ultimate goal is to reduce the need for prompts so that the learner can use the skill naturally in everyday situations. Example: If a child needs help asking for a snack, the therapist might start by modeling the correct phrase (“I want a snack, please”) and gradually reduce the level of assistance as the child becomes more independent.
4. Natural Reinforcement
- As mentioned earlier, reinforcement in NET is natural and directly connected to the behavior. This differs from more structured forms of ABA, where rewards might be tangential (e.g., offering a sticker for completing a task). In NET, the result or reward is the natural consequence of the action. Example: If a child asks for a ball and receives the ball, the act of getting the ball serves as the reinforcement for asking appropriately.
How NET Differs from Traditional ABA Teaching Methods
1. Structure vs. Flexibility
- Traditional ABA methods, such as Discrete Trial Training (DTT), are highly structured and follow a specific sequence of instruction, including clear antecedents (what happens before the behavior), behaviors, and consequences. Skills are often taught in isolation, and teaching sessions happen in a controlled environment.
- In contrast, NET is flexible and less structured. It relies on naturally occurring situations and the learner’s interests to guide the lesson. Rather than rigidly following a script, the therapist adapts to the learner’s needs and interests in the moment.
2. Reinforcement
- In traditional ABA, reinforcement is often artificial and predetermined (e.g., a token, a small treat, or verbal praise). In NET, the reinforcement is natural and directly related to the learner’s behavior, such as receiving an item they requested or engaging in an activity they enjoy.
3. Generalization of Skills
- One of the primary goals of ABA is to ensure that skills learned in therapy generalize to other environments (i.e., the learner can use the skills in different settings, with different people, and in different contexts). While generalization can be more challenging in traditional ABA (requiring explicit generalization training), NET naturally promotes generalization because skills are taught in the contexts where they will actually be used.
Benefits of Natural Environment Teaching (NET)
1. Increased Motivation
- Because NET is driven by the learner’s interests, students are often more motivated to participate. When learning is fun and rewarding, learners are more engaged and willing to try new tasks.
2. Better Generalization of Skills
- Since skills are taught in real-life contexts, learners are more likely to apply what they’ve learned in a variety of settings. This reduces the need for extra generalization training, as the learner is already practicing the skill in the environment where it will be used.
3. Natural Reinforcement
- NET uses reinforcement that is directly tied to the learner’s actions. This helps learners understand the connection between their behavior and the outcome, making the learning process more meaningful and functional.
4. Reduces Prompt Dependency
- The flexible nature of NET encourages learners to be more independent. By fading prompts over time, learners become less reliant on the therapist and more capable of using skills on their own in natural settings.
5. Incorporates Social and Communication Skills
- NET naturally incorporates opportunities for social interaction and communication, as many real-world situations require these skills. Whether it’s asking for help, sharing with peers, or engaging in conversation, NET provides ample chances to practice social skills.
Challenges of Natural Environment Teaching (NET)
While NET has many advantages, it also presents some challenges:
1. Less Structure
- The flexibility of NET can be a challenge for learners who thrive in highly structured environments. Some students may become overwhelmed or distracted in less controlled settings.
2. Difficult to Implement in Some Environments
- NET relies on the natural environment, which means it may not always be feasible in settings like traditional classrooms, where time and resources are more limited.
3. Requires Skilled Practitioners
- Implementing NET effectively requires therapists and educators who are skilled at recognizing learning opportunities in real time and can adapt strategies based on the learner’s needs.
Conclusion
Natural Environment Teaching (NET) is an effective and flexible teaching strategy within ABA that focuses on teaching skills in real-world contexts. By using the learner’s natural interests and environments, NET creates a more engaging and meaningful learning experience. The approach promotes generalization of skills, increases motivation, and uses natural reinforcement, making it a powerful tool for helping individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities achieve lasting success.
While it may present challenges, NET’s emphasis on functional, real-life learning makes it an essential component of comprehensive ABA therapy. When used alongside other ABA techniques, NET can help learners develop a broad range of skills that they can use independently across different settings and situations.
