What is the term for having a learner select items they prefer prior to teaching to identify potential preferences?

The correct term for having a learner select items they prefer prior to teaching to identify potential preferences is a formal preference assessment. This method is systematic and structured, allowing practitioners to gather meaningful data on a learner's interests and preferences in a controlled setting. Formal preference assessments often involve a set of procedures that ensure the consistency and reliability of the results, providing a clear understanding of what items may be reinforcing or motivating for the learner.

In these assessments, various items or activities are presented to the learner, who can then choose which ones they prefer. This data can be invaluable in designing effective teaching strategies that are tailored to the learner's individual preferences, enhancing engagement and learning outcomes.

While free operant preference assessments involve allowing a learner to choose freely among available options, and paired stimulus preference assessments present items in pairs to determine preferences, formal preference assessments encompass a broader and more structured approach. Informal interviews, on the other hand, do not consist of the direct selection of items by the learner and usually rely on subjective reporting of preferences, which may not accurately reflect the learner's true inclinations in a teaching context.