What is Precision Teaching?
Precision Teaching is a measurement system for learning developed by Ogden Lindsley in the 1960s. Rather than prescribing what or how to teach, Precision Teaching provides a framework for measuring learning precisely enough to make informed instructional decisions.
The key insight of Precision Teaching is that frequency (count per minute) reveals learning that accuracy alone cannot show. A student can be 100% accurate on a skill yet still struggle to use that skill fluently in real-world situations. By measuring both accuracy and speed, Precision Teaching identifies when learners have achieved true fluency—the level of performance that predicts retention and application.
"The learner knows best."— Ogden Lindsley, founder of Precision Teaching
Core Principles
Four foundational concepts that define the Precision Teaching approach to measuring and accelerating learning.
Frequency as the Primary Measure
Precision Teaching uses count per minute rather than percentage correct as the primary measure of learning.
- Frequency = Behavior Count ÷ Counting Time in Minutes
- A learner can be 100% accurate but still not fluent
- Frequency measures capture both accuracy AND speed
- The standard scale spans from 0.001 to 1000 per minute
Daily Practice and Measurement
Consistent daily practice with systematic data collection drives improvement.
- Brief, frequent practice sessions (1-minute timings)
- Data collected every practice session on calendar days
- Progress charted immediately for visual feedback
- Decisions based on data patterns, not assumptions
Fluency Aims
Performance targets that predict retention, endurance, stability, and application (RESA outcomes).
- Aim stars mark target frequency and target date
- Acceleration aims point UP; deceleration aims point DOWN
- Reaching aim predicts long-term retention
- Aims vary by response type and content complexity
Standard Celeration Chart
A semi-logarithmic chart using a "times-divide" scale that reveals learning patterns invisible on linear charts.
- Uses ratio scale where equal distances = equal multiplication
- "Equal bounce" — daily variability looks the same at all levels
- Celeration lines show rate of change (×2.0 = doubling weekly)
- Standard format saves time and enables comparison across learners
The RESA Outcomes
Research suggests that fluent performance produces four critical outcomes that distinguish true mastery from mere accuracy.
Retention
Fluent skills are remembered longer without practice
Endurance
Fluent skills can be performed for extended periods
Stability
Fluent skills remain accurate despite distractions
Application
Fluent skills transfer to new situations and contexts
These outcomes are associated with fluent performance in Precision Teaching literature. Individual results may vary.
Historical Context
Precision Teaching has evolved over six decades, from its origins at Harvard to modern digital applications.
Origins at Harvard
Ogden Lindsley, a student of B.F. Skinner, developed Precision Teaching while working with individuals with developmental disabilities.
Standard Celeration Chart
Teachers were spending 20-30 minutes describing their unique charting systems. Lindsley created the Standard Celeration Chart so progress could be shared instantly.
SAFMEDS Development
Graf and Lindsley developed SAFMEDS (Say All Fast Minute Every Day Shuffled) as a structured fluency-building procedure.
Morningside Academy
Kent Johnson's Morningside Academy demonstrated remarkable results using Precision Teaching methods with at-risk learners.
Chart Book & Resources
Owen White, Malcolm Neely, and others published comprehensive guides to SCC conventions, including "The Chart Book" (2004).
Digital Adaptation
Precision Teaching methods adapted for digital platforms, making fluency-based learning and automatic charting more accessible.
SAFMEDS: A Precision Teaching Procedure
SAFMEDS (Say All Fast Minute Every Day Shuffled) is a fluency-building procedure developed within the Precision Teaching framework. Each element of the acronym represents a critical component:
- SSay — Active recall—produce the response
- AAll — Practice all cards, not just difficult ones
- FFast — Build speed alongside accuracy
- MMinute — Use 60-second timed practice sessions
- EEvery — Practice every day consistently
- DDay — Daily practice builds durable fluency
- SShuffled — Randomize order to prevent sequence learning
TAFMEDS: Digital SAFMEDS
TAFMEDS (Type All Fast Minute Every Day Shuffled) adapts the SAFMEDS method for digital practice. Instead of saying responses aloud, you type them—enabling automatic timing, scoring, and progress tracking.
Try TAFMEDS FreeGetting Started with Precision Teaching
Begin applying Precision Teaching principles to your learning today.
Choose Your Content
Select material you want to build fluency with—terminology, facts, procedures, or any content that benefits from rapid recall.
Set Your Fluency Aim
Determine your target count per minute based on response type and content. Use our Fluency Aim Calculator for guidance.
Practice Daily & Chart
Complete daily timed practice sessions and record your data. Track progress over time to see your celeration (learning rate).
Ready to Experience Precision Teaching?
TAFMEDS brings Precision Teaching principles to digital flashcard practice. Build fluency with automatic timing, scoring, and Standard Celeration Charts.