Aptitude by Treatment Interactions and Gagné’s Nine Events of Instruction Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

Overview Aptitude by Treatment Interactions Gagné’s Nine Events of Instruction Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

Aptitude by Treatment Interactions (Cronbach & Snow) Aptitude: A personal characteristic that influences a person’s ability to perform a specific task Treatment: Researcher’s intervention to determine its effects on the dependent variable  In this context, the treatment is an instructional intervention Interaction: The effect of a treatment is influenced by one or more other variables Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

Aptitude by Treatment Interactions (Cronbach & Snow) ATI research is designed to determine whether the effects of instructional methods are influenced by specific characteristics of the learners Two Independent Variables  Treatment and Aptitude One Dependent Variable  Academic Achievement Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

Aptitude by Treatment Interactions (Cronbach & Snow) Aptitude-Treatment Interaction (ATI): The effectiveness of instructional strategies depends upon a person’s specific abilities Aptitudes and instruction interact in complex patterns  The effectiveness of an instruction for a particular student depends on the task and situational variables Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

ATI Example Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

Well Established ATI’s Classroom environmental structure and Cognitive ability  Highly structured instructional environments: High level of teacher control Well defined assignments  Low structured instructional environments: Freedom to pursue interests Open-ended assignments Highly structured instruction seems to help students with low ability but hurt those with high abilities Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

Instructional Structure and Cognitive Ability Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

Well Established ATIs Classroom environmental structure and Academic anxiety Anxious students tend to learn better in highly structured classroom environments; non- anxious students tend to prefer low structure classroom environments Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

ATI Research Design Treatment: Different methods of teaching the same content  Random assignment of students to the treatments Aptitude: Pre-testing of aptitude that is hypothesized to be more related to one treatment than the other Academic Performance: Post-testing of academic performance as the dependent variable Overall Conclusion: Optimal learning results when the instruction is exactly matched to the aptitudes of the learner Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

Gagné’s Nine Events of Instruction 1. Get Attention  Information Processing Theory 2. State Objective  Focus Attention 3. Stimulate recall of prior learning  Transfer  Schema Theory 4. Present the content  Apply the most appropriate theory of learning Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos

Gagné’s Nine Events of Instruction 5. Provide guidance for learning  Scaffolding 6. Elicit performance  Active learning 7. Provide feedback  Research article 8. Assess performance  Determine if students understand as necessary for prior knowledge 9. Enhance retention and transfer  Practice in multiple contexts Dr. K. A. Korb University of Jos