The Work of Robert Gagné

The Work of Robert Gagné

Overview

The fundamental concern of instructional design is the creation of more effective learning environments for learners. In order to do this, instructional designers must consider the various learning styles and stages of development of the learners as they interact with course material and develop a mature understanding of a topic.

According to Ormrod (1995), theories of learning provide explanations about the underlying mechanisms involved in the learning process. Theories allow us to summarize the results of many research studies and integrate numerous principle of learning. Principles of learning identify specific factors that consistently influence learning and describe the particular effects that these factors have. Studies have shown given the same piece of information, individuals interpret it differently and learn it at different rates through different methods. Thus, the challenge of effective instruction is not only delivering the desired instruction, but in a way that learners of various background, skills, and experiences can take that learning into their personal world of knowledge and make it their own. By addressing the fundamental concern of instructional design and incorporating learning theories to support the process of learning, Robert Gagné's instructional design theory has emerged as a primary model used for effective instructional design. This paper will outline Gagné's instructional design theory and provide information on how it is applied to instructional technology.

Gagné's Instructional Design Theory

"Instructional design theories, such as Gagné's theory, take the cognitivist paradigm one logical step further by claiming that an instructiona...

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Gagné, R.M. (1985). The conditions of learning (4th ed.). New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston, Inc.

Gagné, R.M. & Briggs, L.J. (1979). Principles of instructional design (2nd ed.). New York:

Holt, Rinehart & Winston, Inc.

Gagné R.M. & Driscoll, M. (1988). Essentials of learning for instruction (2nd ed.). Englewood

Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

Gagné, R.M. & Glaser, R. (1987). Foundations in learning research. In R.M. Gagné (Ed.),

Instructional technology: Foundations (pp. 49-83). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum

Associates, Inc.

Ormrod, J.E. (1995). Human learning (2nd ed.) (pp. 6-11). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

Streibel, M. (1995). Instructional plans and situated learning. In G.J. Anglin (Ed.), Instructional

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