How is "naturalistic teaching" characterized?

Naturalistic teaching is characterized by the use of real-life situations and environments to facilitate learning. It involves engaging learners in their natural settings during authentic activities and interactions, which encourages the application of skills in contexts that are relevant and meaningful to them. This approach recognizes that individuals often learn best when they can directly relate the information or skills being taught to their everyday experiences.

Whether it's during playtime, mealtime, or other routine activities, naturalistic teaching leverages spontaneous opportunities to teach and reinforce skills. This method fosters generalization, allowing learners to transfer what they have learned to various situations, enhancing the effectiveness of instruction.

The emphasis on learning in natural contexts also means that learners are more likely to retain information when it is presented in a way that holds their interest and is directly applicable to their lives. This approach contrasts sharply with more structured or artificial settings, where teaching may not resonate as deeply with the learner's actual experiences.