Tip #862:  Another Instructional Design Model

“Think about what your learners need to do with that information after the course is finished and design around that.” Matthew Guyan

I just became aware of another instructional design model: Gagne’s Nine Events of Instruction. Each event identifies what the trainer should do for successful instruction.

The Nine Events of Instruction are:

1. Gaining attention- using an introductory activity that engages the learners.
2. Informing learners of the objective- identifying what the learners will do during the session and what they will be able to do after the session.
3. Stimulating recall of prior learning- relating the new information to something they have already experienced through positive transfer.
4. Presenting the stimulus- providing session content using examples and a variety of delivery methods.
5. Providing learning guidance- modeling what the learners are supposed to do and coaching them while they do it.
6. Eliciting performance- using learning activities that enable the learners to practice applying their new knowledge or skills.
7. Providing feedback- giving immediate and specific feedback to reinforce correct performance and address incorrect performance.
8. Assessing performance- testing the learners’ retention and retrieval of new knowledge or skills.
9. Enhancing retention and transfer- relating the instruction and performance to the learners’ actual daily work and providing job aids.

This is an interesting model. I don’t usually look at training design from the standpoint of what the trainer will do. Instead, I design based on what the learner needs to do to achieve the learning objectives.

I take issue with Events 8 and 9. Regarding Event 8. Assessing performance, I would prefer that a pre-test be administered prior to the session and a post-test at the end of the session to determine the learners’ growth.

Regarding Event 9. Enhancing retention and transfer, I think it should occur much earlier. The content should be related to the learners’ needs and include job aids beginning with Event 4. Presenting the stimulus.

I would like to add a 10^th event:  Obtaining buy-in- having the learners identify the benefits of learning the content or the consequences of not learning the content. This would be inserted between Events 2. and 3.

Have you used this instructional design model? If so, how useful was it?

May your learning be sweet- and safe.

Deborah