A solid course design structure that promotes knowledge and skills transfer.
What are the 9 events of instruction?
The most popular element of Robert Gagne’s ‘Theory of instruction’ are the 9 events of instruction. Gagne’s 9 events of instruction provide the conditions for learning to take place and are outlined below:
- Gain attention
- Provide a learning objective
- Stimulate recall of prior knowledge
- Present the material
- Provide guidance for learning
- Elicit performance
- Provide feedback
- Assess performance
- Enhance retention and transfer
Why use the 9 events?
The 9 events of instruction provide a blueprint for course creation. It provides guidelines on content, sequence, and checkpoints that support the way the brain works to promote the transfer of learning.
How can I use the 9 events of instruction in my course?
You can implement each event of instruction in various ways. Below is an example for each event:
- Gain attention: offer a story on how it affects the learner
- Provide a learning objective: present a problem to solve
- Stimulate recall of prior knowledge: recall a common experience relevant to the material
- Present the material: provide chunked and sequenced learning content
- Provide guidance for learning: add scaffolding for the learner with help when required
- Elicit performance: offer practice activities
- Provide feedback: give initial and/or delayed feedback
- Assess performance: include an assessment
- Enhance retention and transfer: provide examples of similar applications of the learning
The events provide a blueprint to follow and helps you identify gaps in your course design.
A comprehensive roadmap for designing a course. “
Review
Pros: Can be used as a checklist to ensure all instructional events are present.
Cons: Suitable for a course rather than a small standalone learning activity.
Related reading: Instructional Design, ADDIE, Merrill, Bloom