Definition
A level in the psychomotor learning domain in which the student performs a physical skill under the direct guidance of an instructor, typically by imitation or by following step-by-step direction. The action is not yet independent; the instructor's prompting is what allows the student to produce the correct movement.
Plain English
The stage where a learner performs a hands-on task by copying the instructor or being talked through it step by step, rather than doing it on their own.
Context Anchor
Seen in aviation instructor training when discussing how students learn hands-on flying skills, such as landings, turns, radio calls, or checklist use.
Derivation
From 'guided' (led or directed) and 'response' (an action performed in reply to a stimulus). The pairing captures the idea that the student's action is being steered by the instructor rather than self-initiated.
Why Pilots Care
Helps instructors decide when a student still needs close direction versus when they are ready for more independent practice.
Intuition Check
Guided response does not mean the instructor is doing the task for the student. It means the student is doing the task while the instructor is still guiding the action.
Example Sentence 1
During the first crosswind landing lesson, the instructor kept the student at a guided response level, calling out rudder and aileron inputs as they happened.
Example Sentence 2
During pre-solo training the instructor used guided response to help the student master the landing flare.