Instructional Design: Using Gagne Nine Events of Instruction

Course Introduction

This course is about instructional design for classroom teachers willing and ready to take their instructional practice to the next level.

Course Aim & Purpose

The course offers a high-impact learning experience that is designed to help you understand Robert Gagne’s principle and how it can be applied in instructional design to improve learners engagement in the classroom.

Course Objectives

On successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Understand the concept of Gagne’s Nine Events of Instruction.
• Identify the nine events of instruction and their significance in instructional design.
• Apply Gagne’s Nine Events of Instruction in instructional design.
• Develop instructional materials using Gagne’s Nine Events of Instruction.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of instructional design using Gagne’s Nine Events of Instruction.
• Identify the strengths and weaknesses of Gagne’s Nine Events of Instruction.

Course Curriculum

Instructional design: using Gagne nine events of instruction requires completion of:

• Module 1: Introduction to Gagne’s Nine Events of Instruction
• Module 2: Applying Gagne’s Nine Events of Instruction in Instructional Design
• Module 3: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Instructional Design Using Gagne’s Nine Events of Instruction

Module 1: Introduction to Gagne Nine Events of Instruction

Gagné (1985, p. 16) argues that proof of learning involves a difference in a learner’s performance before and after a learning situation, requiring both the capability to exhibit performance before learning and the capability to exhibit it after learning.

Reading Activity

Northern Illinois University Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning. (2020). Gagné’s nine events of instruction. https://www.niu.edu/citl/resources/guides/instructional-guide/gagnes-nine-events-of-instruction.shtmln.

“Different types of learning exist and different instructional conditions can bring about this learning”.

(Robert Gagne)

Why Gagne principle of instruction?

• It’s based on information processing theories of learning.
• It includes all types of learning outcomes addressed by instruction.
• It combines the external instruction with the internal learning process and memory.

Module 2: Applying Gagne’s Nine Events of Instruction in Instructional Design

In this module we will consider how to apply Gagne’s nine events of instruction in designing our classroom instruction.

Reading Activity

How to apply Gagne’s nine events of instruction by Devlin Peck. May 5, 2023. https://www.devlinpeck.com/content/gagnes-nine-events-of-instruction

Robert Gagne’s and the systematic design of instruction by John H. Curry, Sacha Johnson & Rebeca Peacock. https://edtechbooks.org/id/robert_gagn_and_systematic_design

Share what you have learned in this module using the padlet.

Here is a template that will help you design your lesson in line with Gagne’s nine events of instruction 👇

Download lesson template here

Module 3: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Instructional Design Using Gagne’s Nine Events of Instruction

The strengths of Gagne’s nine events of instruction include:

• Flexibility: The framework can be adapted to different learning contexts and instructional goals.
• Clarity: The framework provides clear guidelines for designing instruction that is aligned with learning objectives
• Engagement: The framework emphasizes the importance of capturing learners’ attention and providing opportunities for active learning.
• Retention: The framework includes strategies for helping learners retain and transfer what they have learned to new situations.
• Effectiveness: The framework has been widely used and researched, and has been shown to be effective in improving learning outcomes.

Gagne’s nine events of instruction is a widely used instructional design model that helps educators create effective learning experiences. However, like any other model, it has its own limitations. Here are some of the weaknesses of Gagne’s nine events of instruction:

• Lack of flexibility: Gagne’s model is a linear approach to instruction, which means that it follows a fixed sequence of events. This can be limiting for educators who want to create more flexible and personalized learning experiences.
• Complexity: Gagne’s model can be complex and difficult to understand for novice educators. The model requires a deep understanding of instructional design principles and can be overwhelming for those who are new to the field.
• Lack of empirical evidence: While Gagne’s model has been widely used in instructional design, there is limited empirical evidence to support its effectiveness. Some researchers have criticized the model for being too prescriptive and not taking into account individual differences in learning.
• Not suitable for all types of learning: Gagne’s model is best suited for teaching cognitive skills, such as problem-solving and critical thinking. It may not be as effective for teaching other types of skills, such as psychomotor skills..
• Not suitable for all learners: Gagne’s model assumes that all learners have the same level of prior knowledge and motivation. This may not be the case in real-world learning environments, where learners have different backgrounds, experiences, and learning styles.

Despite these limitations, Gagne’s nine events of instruction remains a valuable tool for educators who want to create effective learning experiences. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the model, educators can use it more effectively and adapt it to meet the needs of their learners.

Final Assignment

This assessment is designed to access your instructional design skills.