1. Lauren Fowler-Carter
5130
Unit 6: Reflective Paper
Learning and Instruction Perspective
I find Gagné’s instructional theory increasingly beneficial to me, especially as I progress
towards my professional career. Though, with every learning and instructional theory, criticisms
and issues will arise to the surface. Driscoll (2005) states, there has been controversy regarding
the effectiveness and use of Gagné’s instructional objectives (page 365).
It is suggested that one of the issues with Gagné’s instructional theory is due to increased
interest in constructivism, which has caused researchers to question this theory and its
compatibility with goals and assumptions of constructivist epistemology (Driscoll, 2005, p. 380).
Also, studies that have investigated the use of the objectives have suggested “either a small
positive or no effect on intentional learning” along with “a deleterious effect on incidental
learning” (Driscoll, 2005, p. 365). The investigations on this issue have created the controversial
issue, because “despite these results, objectives have gained and maintained a solid footing in
education and training” (Driscoll, 2005, p. 365). According to Driscoll (2005), Gagné is the only
instructional theorist that proposed an “integrated taxonomy of learning outcomes that included
all three domains,” which was first accepted by his contemporary Benjamin Bloom (page 356).
The three domains that Bloom accepted were cognitive, affective and psychomotor (Driscoll,
2005, p. 356).

2. Lauren Fowler-Carter
5130
References
Driscoll, M. P. (2005). Psychology of Learning for Instruction (3rd ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson
Education, Inc.