What is the term for breaking down a skill into smaller, teachable steps?

The correct term for breaking down a skill into smaller, teachable steps is task analysis. Task analysis involves systematically examining a complex skill or task to understand its individual components. This process makes it easier to teach specific skills by isolating each step, allowing for clearer instruction and practice. By breaking down a skill, instructors can identify critical parts that may require additional focus or practice, thus enhancing the learner's understanding and ability to master the overall skill.

This method is widely used in educational settings, as well as in therapeutic environments where skills need to be taught in a manageable way. For example, teaching someone how to cook might involve breaking down the process into steps such as gathering ingredients, preheating the oven, and preparing the food, which facilitates learning and mastery.

In contrast, the other options represent different concepts. Behaviour modification focuses on changing behavioral patterns through reinforcement techniques; skill segmentation refers to the division of a skill into segments but doesn’t specifically imply the teaching process; and progressive learning indicates a gradual increase in complexity rather than focusing on the breakdown of individual steps.