Robert Gagné’s 9 Events of Instruction A Model of Teaching For Acquiring Intellectual Skills * This Model is used for Intellectual Skills instead of other Gagne’s other learning categories like: VERBAL INFORMATION, MOTOR SKILLS, COGNITIVE STRATEGIES, ATTITUDES * In the 1962 classic, some focus was on MILITARY TRAINING. The most recent edition has greater focus on TECHNOLOGY ASSISTED INSTRUCTION. * Most of the “events” will be familiar to current teachers through experience and common sense. However, recognizing them as parts of this sequential model provides a detailed structure for designing lessons and selecting appropriate teaching media. Described in The Conditions of Learning

GAIN ATTENTION Event #1 Also known as: “RECEPTION” Purpose: Stimulate pupils to make them eager to learn new material. Techniques: 1. Present something surprising. Elaboration on Techniques 1. Shock or fascinate students with something new. May be an object, video, statement, interesting fact etc. For younger kids, it might be “Look at this!” For older students: “Every teacher in this room has probably used all 9 steps, even if you never heard of Gagne before last week!” 2. Gage what they know already, provoke curiosity and uncertainty. Examples for this class : “What is a teaching model?” “How do children learn new skills?” 3. Example “What questions do you have about classroom instruction?” May be a guided discussion or an activity that leads them to pose questions about how something works or how to use it. 2. Ask a question. 3. Have students pose questions.

INFORM LEARNER OF OBJECTIVES Event #2 INFORM LEARNER OF OBJECTIVES Also known as: “EXPECTENCY” Purpose: Help students clearly understand what they are expected to learn. Techniques: 1. Describe required performance. Clearly identify objectives and outcomes in words the students can understand. Research says this is very important to learning. Elaboration on Techniques 1. “Today, we’re going to learn the steps of a commonly used teaching model” “By the end of this unit, you will be able to describe Gagne’s Events of Instruction and apply them in your own lesson plans.” 2. Explaining how they will be evaluated, helps students conceptual successful performance. “You will be required to recognize and give examples of these Events of Learning to demonstrate your understanding.” 3. Used in project, paper, or performance or for older self-motivated learners. 2. Describe assessment criteria. 3. Assist students in setting goals.

STIMULATE RECALL OF PRIOR LEARNING Event #3 STIMULATE RECALL OF PRIOR LEARNING Also known as: “RETRIEVAL” Purpose: Helps learners make sense of new information and recognize connections. Techniques: 1. Review previously taught related material. Elaboration on Techniques 1. “Last week we learned that Robert Gagne’s theories are part of the behavioral family.” 2. “Do you remember how you learned to ride a bike?” Relate those steps to classroom learning. 3. “Careful behind the scenes planning by the instructor is a key factor for success with any teaching model.” 2. Ask students about life experiences. 3. Remind class of basic concepts involved.

PRESENT STIMULUS MATERIAL Event #4 PRESENT STIMULUS MATERIAL Also known as: “SELECTIVE PERCEPTION” Purpose: Provide the main content of the lesson. Techniques: 1. Define terms, list steps. Not always a chalkboard lecture or book reading. I’m planning to use computer to present the content and examples next week. 1. Selective Perception means the learner is tuned in to the lesson content. This is the fourth step in Gagne’s Events of Instruction 2. Objects, pictures, words, media 3. Like now! This step has grown from the behaviorist’s stimulus/response to include other methods as well. 2. Give examples. 3. Demonstrate.

PROVIDE LEARNER GUIDANCE Event #5 PROVIDE LEARNER GUIDANCE Also known as: “SEMANTIC ENCODING” Purpose: Help students master new skills or information. Techniques: 1. Practice skills together and answer questions. 1. Verbal prompting might be used to lead to answers. This step is also know as “Semantic …” “Does anyone have any questions so far?” 2. You can find material on this model at www. 3. If you want to commit these steps to memory you can use flash cards to drill yourself. A more useful suggestion: You might want to compare this sequence to your current lessons plans and see if you contain all of the events. If you are often neglecting a certain event it should give you an idea for improving your teaching. 2. Provide materials, tools, resources... 3. Suggest learning strategies.

ELICIT PERFORMANCE Event #6 Also known as: “RESPONDING” Purpose: Help student internalize and apply skills and information. Techniques: 1. Homework & classwork practice 1. “Everyone write down one thing Gagne’s model requires instructors to do in a lesson before they begin presenting the new material.” 2. If we had more time I’d ask you to work with a partner to write a class lesson that includes all 9 learning events. 3. Then, I might ask you to present the lesson. 2. Activities involving content 3. Papers, projects, presentations ...

PROVIDE FEEDBACK Event #7 Also known as: “REINFORCEMENT” Purpose: Assess performance & facilitate learning. Techniques are various: immediate or delayed, written or verbal 1. Let’s see what some of you have written down for my last question. (Provide feedback.) Immediate is best. Some texts have answers in back. Some problems can be doublechecked by the students or are self-checking like a crossword or some math solutions. On the computer lessons can give individual immediate feedback without giving the answer away unlike going over answers in a large class. confirmatory, analytical, informative, corrective/remedial

ASSESS PERFORMANCE Event #8 Also known as: “CUEING RETRIEVAL” Purpose: Evaluate the effectiveness of the learning events; see if outcomes are achieved. Techniques are various: Following the presentation there will be an evaluation to see if these learning events were met their objectives. tests, quizzes, other evaluation tools

ENHANCE RETENTION AND TRANSFER Event #9 ENHANCE RETENTION AND TRANSFER Also known as: “GENERALIZATION” Purpose: Help learners internalize information and apply it to a new situation. Techniques: 1. Make analogies. 1. “Gagne’s events are to classroom instructors, what a recipe is to a creative cook. They can be altered and ammended but they provide an essential starting framework.” 2. The first three events are pre-learning preparation. The next three are learning and practice and the last three are evaluation and conclusion. 3. Gagne’s model can be applied to teaching your dog tricks. 2. Summarize. 3. Apply concept to new areas.

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