Robert Gagne’s Nine Steps of Instructional Design

(1970)

By

Kathleen Webster

Introduction

The main goal of an instructor is to establish a learning module that will have a positive impact on his or her student.

Robert Gagne’s has created a design module that can guide an instructor to achieve an instructional design that will meet that goal.

Step 1: Gain Attention

Find a way to grab the attention of the learner

Be creative Use devices such as: Storytelling,

demonstrations, problem solving, engage the student in being active in participating.

Engage the students in learning

Step 2: Describe Goal

Describe the goals of the learning module. Outline what the student is expected to

learn. State what the learners will accomplish and

how they will be able to use this knowledge.

Step 3: Stimulate Recall of Prior Knowledge

Show students how prior knowledge is connected to the information being presented.

Provide student with a framework that will stimulate both the learning process and the retention of ideas.

Step 4: Present the material

Develop and implement a plan to deliver the information to the student

The deliver of the information can be in various forms such as power point presentation, lectures, assigned readings, discussions, and other multi-media forms.

Be creative when presenting information

Step 5: Provide Guidance for learning

Evaluate the progress of your students and establish ways to achieve success.

Encourage students to seek other source for learning such as library, internet, and conversation.

Direct students to learning opportunities whenever possible.

Step 6: Elicit Performance

Allow students to find ways to apply the knowledge to help in retaining the information.

Sample of application could be a project that involves using the knowledge to achieve the goals outcome.

Step 7: Provide Feedback

Feedback is an essential tool for the learner. It involves the instructor monitoring the

student’s learning and making sure the student is correct in his or her learning.

The instructor needs to encourage the student by recognizing the student’s achievement in learning.

Step 8: Assess Performance

Test, quiz, group discussion, papers and projects are just some of the ways an instructor can determine if the student is learning the material presented.

It is important to assess the learning performance of a student to determine if the process is efficient.

Assess the student’s learning by challenging their knowledge

Step 9: Enhance Retention and Transfer

Students may find value in learning if they can transfer the information they learn to a situation they know.

Students may retain the information if they have an opportunity to apply it to a situation even if it is just for practice.

Helpful Websites

For more information concerning instructional design and Gagne’s instructional model

http://www.edutechwiki.unige.ch/en/Nine_events_of instruction

http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/learnings/development.html

Conclusion

Instructional design is essential for a successful learning module.

Incorporating Gagne’s 9 steps of instruction can assist in making that design a success.