What defines Natural Environment Training (NET)?

Natural Environment Training (NET) is centered around promoting learner motivation in a natural setting, which is crucial for enhancing engagement and retention of skills. This approach leverages the natural occurrences and interactions in a child's everyday environment to facilitate learning opportunities that are relevant and meaningful. By utilizing real-life situations, NET allows learners to apply skills in contexts that they will naturally encounter, thus fostering generalization and practical use of those skills in their daily lives.

This method contrasts with highly structured learning sessions, which may not incorporate the spontaneity and variety of real-world contexts that NET emphasizes. Furthermore, while teacher intervention can be beneficial, NET does not require constant teacher intervention at every step; instead, it encourages students to initiate and direct their own learning within the natural environment. Additionally, NET is not solely focused on academic skills; it encompasses a broader range of social and functional skills that can be integrated seamlessly into a child's routine. This holistic approach contributes significantly to a learner's overall development and skill acquisition.