Gagné’s Nine Events of Instruction is a powerful framework to have in mind when designing any learning experience. First introduced in his groundbreaking work “The Conditions of Learning”, this process bridges the gap between existing theoretical research and practical teaching applications. Gagné’s framework provides eLearning designers with a structured yet flexible approach to instructional design.
The foundation of Gagné’s Nine Events
Gagné was deeply inspired by cognitive science. By analysing how people process new information, he developed a system to enhance learning efficiency. Learning, according to Gagné, is a uniquely individual experience with instructors facilitating the experience. Gagné argued that a specific series of ‘events’ can support the learning process. Each event consists of external stimuli, such as specific activities or teaching techniques. Depending on learners’ needs and prior knowledge, instructors might combine, rearrange or skip certain types of stimuli.
Let’s explore each of these events in detail.
Breaking down the Nine Events of Instruction
Gain attention
This first event focuses on directing learners’ attention to the learning experience. It’s all about capturing their interest and getting them ready to learn about the topic.
Why it matters: Gaining attention matters because it prepares the learner’s mind to receive new information by activating their cognitive processes. This significantly improves information retention and comprehension.
Inform learners of objectives
A crucial step in the learning process is to communicate clear expectations. You and your learners should be on the same page about the type of performance that is expected.
According to Gagné, this event is the occasion to help learners answer the question ”how will I know when I have learned?”.
Why it matters: Clear objectives give learners agency. They set expectations for what they will learn and why it’s valuable. This creates purpose and direction, helping learners focus their attention on relevant aspects of the instruction.
Stimulate recall of prior learning
This event is an opportunity to reflect on prior learning, knowledge and experiences which relate to the new information. Prior knowledge becomes accessible in short-term memory and activates relevant neural pathways.
Why it matters: This provides a foundation for building new knowledge by anchoring it to established mental frameworks.
Present the content
This event involves delivering targeted content in a logical, structured and coherent way. The type of content you choose should be relevant to the learning objectives and the type of performance you expect.
Why it matters: Presenting the new information is the core instructional component in which the actual learning material is communicated to learners using appropriate methods and instructional media.
Provide guidance
This event is all about guiding learners through strategies, examples and frameworks that help learners process and organise new information effectively.
Why it matters: Providing guidance supports learners to make meaningful connections and prevents misunderstandings by highlighting critical features of what’s being taught.
Elicit performance
This event allows learners to actively practice new skills or knowledge, strengthening neural connections through application.
Why it matters: Eliciting performance transforms passive understanding into active competence by requiring learners to demonstrate what they’ve learned.
Provide feedback
This event informs learners about the accuracy of their performance and understanding, allowing them to correct misconceptions.
Why it matters: Feedback shows learners how accurate their performance is and where they can improve. It reinforces correct responses while addressing incorrect ones.
Assess performance
This event helps determine if learners have achieved the intended learning objectives. This is usually a formal assessment or evaluation of skills.
Why it matters: Assessing performance verifies the effectiveness of both the instruction and the learning process, providing evidence of competency acquisition.
Enhance retention and transfer
This final event promotes long-term retention and the ability to apply knowledge and skills to new situations.
Why it matters: Enhancing retention and transfer ensures that learning has lasting value by providing opportunities to use skills in varied contexts through real-world application.
Gagné’s Nine Events of Instruction provide a practical framework for designing effective learning experiences. By focusing on how people naturally learn, each event serves a specific purpose in the learning process. If you want to discover more about how you can apply Gagné’s framework to eLearning design specifically, check out our blog ‘Using Gagné’s 9 Events of Instruction for eLearning design’ or our Instructional Design for eLearning online course.
References:
- Gagné, R. M., Briggs, L. J., & Wager, W. W. (1992). Principles of Instructional Design (4th ed.). Fort Worth, TX: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich College Publishers.
- Gagné, R. M. (1965). The Conditions of Learning. New York, NY: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
