What type of assistance is given to learners after an instructional stimulus but before the learner responds?

The type of assistance provided to learners after an instructional stimulus and before they respond is referred to as a prompt. Prompts are cues or hints that help guide learners towards the correct response or behavior when learning new skills or concepts. By providing prompts, educators can facilitate the learning process and increase the likelihood of a successful response from the learner. This technique is particularly useful in educational settings where learners may need additional support to demonstrate their understanding or skill application.

In contrast, prompt fading involves gradually reducing the assistance over time, helping the learner to become more independent. Prompt delay refers to the strategy of introducing a short waiting period after the instruction before giving the prompt, allowing learners time to think and potentially respond on their own. Picture prompts utilize visual aids to support learning but are a specific type of prompt rather than the general concept. Each of these options serves different purposes in the learning process, but the initial assistance to help learners respond correctly is best described simply as a prompt.