Robert Gagne's nine steps of instructional design provide a framework to effectively teach students new information. The nine steps are: 1) gain attention, 2) inform learners of objectives, 3) stimulate recall of prior knowledge, 4) present the content, 5) provide learning guidance, 6) elicit performance, 7) provide feedback, 8) assess performance, and 9) enhance retention and transfer. Following these steps helps ensure students are engaged, understand goals, can connect new content to existing knowledge, comprehend the material through creative delivery, get assistance and practice applying knowledge to demonstrate understanding and receive feedback to improve.

1. Robert Gagne’s Nine Steps of Instructional Design (1970) By Kathleen Webster

2. Introduction The main goal of an instructor is to establish a learning module that will have a positive impact on his or her student. Robert Gagne’s has created a design module that can guide an instructor to achieve an instructional design that will meet that goal.

3. Step 1: Gain Attention Find a way to grab the attention of the learner Be creative Use devices such as: Storytelling, demonstrations, problem solving, engage the student in being active in participating.

4. Engage the students in learning

5. Step 2: Describe Goal Describe the goals of the learning module. Outline what the student is expected to learn. State what the learners will accomplish and how they will be able to use this knowledge.

6. Step 3: Stimulate Recall of Prior Knowledge Show students how prior knowledge is connected to the information being presented. Provide student with a framework that will stimulate both the learning process and the retention of ideas.

7. Step 4: Present the material Develop and implement a plan to deliver the information to the student The deliver of the information can be in various forms such as power point presentation, lectures, assigned readings, discussions, and other multi-media forms.

8. Be creative when presenting information

9. Step 5: Provide Guidance for learning Evaluate the progress of your students and establish ways to achieve success. Encourage students to seek other source for learning such as library, internet, and conversation. Direct students to learning opportunities whenever possible.

10. Step 6: Elicit Performance Allow students to find ways to apply the knowledge to help in retaining the information. Sample of application could be a project that involves using the knowledge to achieve the goals outcome.

11. Step 7: Provide Feedback Feedback is an essential tool for the learner. It involves the instructor monitoring the student’s learning and making sure the student is correct in his or her learning. The instructor needs to encourage the student by recognizing the student’s achievement in learning.

12. Step 8: Assess Performance Test, quiz, group discussion, papers and projects are just some of the ways an instructor can determine if the student is learning the material presented. It is important to assess the learning performance of a student to determine if the process is efficient.

13. Assess the student’s learning by challenging their knowledge

14. Step 9: Enhance Retention and Transfer Students may find value in learning if they can transfer the information they learn to a situation they know. Students may retain the information if they have an opportunity to apply it to a situation even if it is just for practice.

15. Helpful Websites For more information concerning instructional design and Gagne’s instructional model http:// www.edutechwiki.unige.ch/en/Nine_events_of instruction http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/hrd/learnings/development.html

16. Conclusion Instructional design is essential for a successful learning module. Incorporating Gagne’s 9 steps of instruction can assist in making that design a success.