Cognitivist Theory of Learning

Robert Gagne
Presented by :
KPLI SN 1
Chew Chooi Mooi
Hasmawati Binti Abu Bakar
Khairul Anuar Bin Hashim

Robert Gagnes Theoretical

Background

Born in 1916 in North

Andover,
Massachusetts
Received Bachelors of
Arts and earned his
doctoral from Brown
University

Robert Gagnes Background &

Published Works

Well known for theory of conditional

learning
Consist of 3 distinct component :
Taxonomy of learning outcomes learning domain
Specific learning condition Hierarchy of Learning
9 instructional events

Robert Gagnes Hierarchy of

Learning

Refers to a set of component skills that

must be learned before the complex skill
of which they are a part can be learned
Classifying different types of learning in
term of the degree of complexity of the
mental involved.
Higher orders of learning build upon the
lower levels.
The lowest 4 orders tend to focus on the
more behavioural aspects.
The highest 4 focus on the more cognitive
aspects

Robert Gagnes Hierarchy of

Learning
Problem Solving

Increasing complexity

Principle Learning

Concept Learning

More to cognitive
aspects

Multiple Discrimination Learning

Verbal Association Learning

Psychomotor Connection Learning

Stimulus Response Learning

Signal Learning

More to behavioural
aspects

Robert Gagnes Hierarchy of

Learning
1) Signal Learning
Learn how to respond to a signal, like
Pavlovs dog (Pavlovs classical
conditioned response)
Usually the response is emotional

2) Stimulus(S) Response(R) Learning

Learn precise response to precise signal /
stimulus
Different from signal learning, signal
learning leads to involuntary responses,
whereas the responses in S-R learning
are voluntarily controlled.

Robert Gagnes Hierarchy of

Learning
3) Psychomotor Connection Learning
Occurs when a chain of stimuli and
responses are formed
Lean to to follow procedures
Able to chain 2 or more stimulusresponse

4) Verbal Association Learning

Use terminology in verbal chains

5) Multiple Discrimination Learning

Learn how to distinguish between
similar stimuli

Robert Gagnes Hierarchy of

Learning
Make different responses to each type
of stimulus, even when they may be
perceptually similar.

6) Concept Learning
Singular / common response to an
entire class of stimuli

7) Principle Learning
Viewed as a chain of two or more
concepts.
Learn to apply rules

Robert Gagnes Hierarchy of

Learning
8)

Problem Solving
Highest learning type which lead to the
discovery of higher order rules
All other types of learning must have
been completed for it to be present.

Robert Gagnes 9 Events of

Instruction

When the Events of Instruction occur, internal

learning processes take place that lead to
various learning outcomes.
(Campos, 1999)

The Events of Instruction constitute a set of

communications to the student, which have
the aim of aiding the learning process.
Instruction consists of a set of events
external to the learner designed to support
the internal processes of learning.
(Gagne, Briggs, & Wager, 1988)

This theory outlines nine instructional events

and their corresponding processes.

Robert Gagnes 9 Events of

Instruction

Robert Gagnes 9 Events of

Instruction
1) Gain Attention
Use an interest device that grabs
learners attention

2) Inform Learner of Objective

Initiates the internal process of
expectancy and helps motivate the
learner to complete the lesson

3) Stimulate Recall Prior Knowledge

Associating new information with prior
knowledge / experiences can facilitate
the learning process

Robert Gagnes 9 Events of

Instruction
4) Present The Material
new content is actually presented to
the learner.
Content should be chunked and
organized meaningfully, and typically
is explained and then demonstrated.

5) Provide Guidance For Learning

To help learners encode information for
long-term storage, additional guidance
should be provided along with the
presentation of new content

Robert Gagnes 9 Events of

Instruction
6) Elicit Performance
Practice by letting the learner do
something with the newly acquired
behavior, skills, or knowledge

7) Provide Feedback
Show correctness of the learner's
response, analyze learner's behavior.

8) Assess Performance
Test / assessment to determine if the
lesson has been learned.

Robert Gagnes 9 Events of

Instruction
9) Enhance Retention & Transfer
Inform the learner about similar
problem situations, provide additional
practice, put the learner in a transfer
situation, review the lesson.

Learning Domains :
5 types of learning outcome
Outcome
or Ability

Meaning

Intellectual
skill

Ability to
interact with
surroundings
using concept
symbols

Identify the diagonal of a square.

Explaining why ice freezes at
0C.
Predicting the rate of growth of a
plant based on conditions of
water, soil, light, etc.

Ability to control
the individuals
behaviour to
learn, remember
& think.

To draw a chart for organizing

data. To reason backwards to
solve problem. Breaking up a
problem into various parts.

Cognitive
strategy

Performance example

Outcome or
Ability
Verbal
Information

Motor skills

Attitude

Meaning

Performance
example

Development of
information using
language

Naming the parts of an

electric circuit & the
function of each part.
Listing objects that can be
recycled. Stating
characteristic of light.

Manipulative skills &

carrying out routine
work.

Preparing a microscope
slide. Build a model of a
simple machine. Measuring
the weight of an object
using a balance.

Change of attitude
Making choices in the
towards an object,
preparation of an insects
another person,
collection. Visit science
situation @ change in museum voluntarily &
effective domain.
choose to borrow a book
on dinosaurs.