Gagne's+Nine+Events+of+Instruction+MHeuer

** How would you apply Gagne's principles to classroom instruction? ** To answer this question completely, it would take several pages. Gagne’s principles and similar principles of instruction by other behaviorist have become widely accepted practice. The first 8 steps become second nature to good teachers. They are practices I use daily. In reading, a question or statement is posted on the board to gain the students’ interest and stimulate their thinking. Also listed on the board are the objectives will be working on and the materials we will be using. Core skills are reviewed and reinforced, often in an activity led by a student before beginning the day’s new materials. Students are provided models and practice reading skills independently, with a partner, and as a group. Feedback is provided frequently both verbally and in writing (such as a star after each correct response). Students work towards mastery of skills. Evaluation is on going through observation, written products, charting timed reading with a partner, progress monitoring of reading fluency, reading comprehension, and written expression. The ninth step is the most difficult to accomplished and is often resisted by students as evidenced by students often inquiring why math is being done in a reading class for example with comments like, “This isn’t math class. Why are we doing this?” Just today at school a reading teacher mentioned to a math teacher that her reading group didn’t recognize the word “thousand” and the students stated they had never seen it before. Of course they have seen the word “thousand” many times and they readily recognize the word in math class. My students who are still being instructed in basic phonics using the Wilson reading program are encouraged to use the strategies taught in reading in other subjects. They hear phrases like tap it out, scoop it, glance ahead, and does it sound right in all of their classes. ** How would apply Gagne’s principles to adult learning, as with your project? Give examples in your reply to support your view. **  To gain attention, I have been looking for a humorous cartoon or clip. The objectives will be written out on the trainees’ handout and posted on one of the first Power Point slides to be discussed. Trainees will be asked to “think, pair, share” what they already know about teaching students to use word documents in completing assignments. Steps four through seven would be used at various times during the training with trainees being presented with small chunks of information at a time to practice and receive guidance and frequent feedback. Formative evaluation would be on going through observation. Summative evaluation would be completed by observing the trainee actually using the skills- preparing the computer lab, preparing the students, and instructing the students. For teachers who need more scaffolding, I will offer to model a lesson to the extent of going with the trainee to set up the lab, help the trainee sign out the lab online, and actually providing the instruction to one of the trainee’s classes. I also like and may use the idea of providing trainees with a one-page, laminated quick reference card.
 * Mary Heuer Mary Heuer **