Chapter 7

Conditions-Based Theory

What is it?
It is VERY common But VERY hard to define

The Text Says There are 3 key principles to it:

There are different types of learning outcomes and each type of learning calls for different types of instruction.

Instructional sequencing relies upon relationships among various learning outcomes.

Instructional strategies should facilitate the internal process of learning.

In Laymens Terms

All learning is not the same Good instructors know this and change up their lessons accordingly The goal of conditions-based theory is to be mindful of how the internal conditions of the learner affect the external conditions of learning

Ideally learning is enhanced and made more efficient when the principles of conditions-based theory are applied

Wheres it from?
*Conditions-Based theory evolved from instructional psychology research *Its roots can be traced directly from

Instructional psychology
+ The immergence of ID in the 1960s & 1970s

Philosophical Emphasis There are 3 general rules:

Conditions based theory is based on an empiricist philosophy with many pragmatic applications.

There are common beliefs and values supporting the theory that may not be empirically derived.

There is an emphasis on goal-directed instruction, efficiency, effectiveness and process.

A little Back-story
The idea that there are different types of learning is not new

Originally scholars were all about organizing and categorizing learning and how it occurred

But then they started to think about it from a content perspective

SAYS WHO?

The Big 3
BENJAMIN BLOOM ROBERT GAGNE M. DAVID MERRILL

BENJAMIN BLOOM
*Bloom was a super organizer *He is famous for his taxonomies *They are hierarchical and move from simple to complex *Objectives in each category build on those in the previous

ROBERT GAGNE
*Seen as the main contributor to the conditions-based theory *He identified the 6 categories of learning and their tasks: -response learning-chining -verbal learning -concept learning -principle learning -problem solving

*In 1965 he penned The Conditions of Learning

9 Levels
But he gave credit to Bloom and his gang because he said without the taxonomies it would be impossible to measure learning outcomes regardless the subject

This led to Gagnes 9 events/ levels of learning

Gagne has greatly influenced ID practices as classifying learning tasks is one of the first things instructional designers must do on any project

Gagnes Research
Cumulative Learning
Behavioral development results from the cumulative effects of learning

Gagnes Research
Prerequisite Content Relationships
Gagne felt that all 9 levels were related to each other and that the reason some students failed in certain areas was that they had knowledge gaps in reference to the prerequisite content

Example: It is difficult to understand fractions if you have not mastered addition and subtraction.

M. DAVID MERRILL
* Built upon Gagnes research

*Came up with the performance-context matrix

*Shows learning task as a combo of 2 separate phenomena: 1. The Content Category 1. The Behavior Students Demonstrate When They Have Met the Instructional Objective

ID Applications
*Domains of Learning

*Events of Instruction *Generative & Supplantive strategies *Problem Solving *Learning Hierarchies *Performance ContentMatrix *Complex Learning *Motivational Learning

Key Principles All learning is not the same

Philosophical Emphasis Is based on an empiricist philosophy with many pragmatic applications

Main Contributors

ID Applications *Domains of Learning *Events of Instruction *Generative & Supplantive strategies

Benjamin Bloom Good instructors know this and change up their lessons accordingly Beliefs and values supporting the theory that may not be empirically derived An emphasis on goal-directed instruction, efficiency, effectiveness and process *Problem Solving *Learning Hierarchies

Robert Gagne

The goal is to be mindful of how the internal conditions of the learner affect the external conditions of learning

*Performance Content-Matrix
*Complex Learning M. David Merrill *Motivational Learning

Conditions-Based theory in Action!

This video showcases how the internal experience of the learner affects the external learning

Watch as the instructor tries to guide the novice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mToQGltYXd 8