Gagne’s Nine Events

Gagne’s nine events is one of the most common concepts in the instructional design domain. Gagne’s nine events were founded by Robert Gagne to align the process of instructional designing. It offers a step-by-step development strategy for an eLearning course. As the name suggests, Gagne’s nine events has nine stages which define the development process.

The Nine Events/Stages Implementation-
Let’s understand the nine events of Gagne by using it in our scenario. Read the following scenario parameters.
Parameters

• You are been assigned to develop an eLearning course for using the internet to access www.eloglearn.blogspot.com


• The learners have cognitive knowledge of the internet


• The learner learnt about opening a browser in the prior lesson


• The learner knows what’s a hyperlink

1. Gain Attention: The strategy is to gain attention of the learner. This can be achieved in the form of enquiry arousal (posing question, case studies, etc.) or by implemented the element of surprise.
   
   Example: Display the website to the students – Gain Attention | Enquiry Arousal.



2. Inform the learner about the Objectives: Inform the learner what he/she will be able to do post completing the lesson. Display the objectives [develop measurable objectives] to the learner.
   
   Example: Students, after completing this lesson you will be able to access www.eloglearn.blogspot.com



3. Provide recall of prior knowledge: In most cases each lesson builds on the previous lesson. So, provide a short recap of what was learnt in the previous lesson. Even if the lesson does not build on the previous lesson, providing recall of previous knowledge may emotionally prepare the learner for the learning.
   
   Example: In the earlier lesson you learnt that each time you double-click the browser icon it opens the browser in a new window. You can then use the browser window to access websites.



4. Present the content: As the title suggests, this is the stage where you will present the content/activity which the learner needs to master.
   
   Example: This is the location where you have to enter the hyperlink. It is called as the ‘Address Bar’. Now, click the Go button.



5. Provide Guidance: In this stage the learner is provided guidance on performing a particular task. There may be situations where the learner might find it difficult to perform the task after introducing him/her to the content.
   
   Example Now, trying accessing the website. This guided self-help animation will help you and provide you detailed instructions as you perform each step.
   /* In this example, there will be a simulation providing tips/hints to the learner to perform the operation. */



6. Elicit Performance: In this stage user is given practise of the activity. This activity is streamlines or is the activity itself which the learner needs to master, i.e. objective of the elearning course.
   
   Example: Congratulation, you have successfully learnt to access www.eloglearn.blogspot.com. Similarly, try accessing the following sites: - www.google.com, www.yahoo.co.in



7. Provide Feedback: Constructive feedback plays a vital role in helping a leaner to perform better.
   
   Example: That is incorrect. You need to click the Go button after entering the hyperlink in the address bar.



8. Assess Performance: Develop an assessment for the learner. Provide results of the assessment to the learner to help the learner to decide better if he needs to go through the course again. From the instructional designer’s point of view, it helps to decide if the learner is prepared to move to the next stage of training.
   
   Example: Welcome to assessment module. Kindly answer all the questions. You will be displayed the result by the end of this module.




9. Enhance retention and transfer: Last but definitely not the least. Provide regular exercises to the learner on performing the activity. Provide with real life scenario where learner can use the skills learnt from the elearning course. This needs to be achieved in correlation with external factors.
   
   Example: In our example scenario, the reporting manager must give the trained employee tasks related to accessing websites, accessing websites through different browsers etc.