ROBERT
GAGNE:
COGNITIVE
BEHAVIORAL
THEORY
Amanda Brunstorm
Jessica Burton
Michael Hynes
Basic Principles of Gagne’s
Theory
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Involved with the U.S. Air force when he started
thinking of his theory
Called his theory the “condition of learning”
Consisted of 3 main principles
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Building towards a final product
Making sure that each step is completed before
moving onto the next on
Making sure the steps were in some sort of
sequence so that they related to the finished
product at the end
Citation: (Virginia Tech University)
 Gagne’s
main contributions to learning
instruction were
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5 learning capabilities
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9 steps to successful learning
Gagne’s Taxonomy of
Learning Outcomes
• These skills are learned
throughout every lesson.
• The teacher should teach the
lesson with these goals in mind.
Citation: (George Mason
University)
Taxonomy Categories
Intellectual Skills
 Knowing how to do something
Examples: reading a novel, measuring a line segment
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Cognitive Strategy
 The way students learn and remember things
Examples: ACE reading strategy (answer, cite, explain),
pnemonic devices
Verbal Information
Stating knowledge already learned
Examples: memorizing vocabulary words, reciting a poem from
memory
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Taxonomy Categories
Attitude
 Personal interest and beliefs affect what a student
will do
 Examples: Writing an essay on art history, doing a
book report on a fiction book as opposed to an
autobiography
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Motor Skills
Using the muscles in relation to body movements
 Examples: Using the hand to write, kicking a
soccer ball
Matching
 Intellectual
 Cognitive
 Verbal
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memorizing vocabulary words,
reciting a poem from memory
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Writing an essay on art history,
doing a book report on a
fiction book as opposed to an
autobiography

reading a novel, measuring a
line segment
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Using the hand to write,
kicking a soccer ball
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ACE reading strategy,
pneumonic devices
strategy
information
 Attitude
 Motor
skills
skills
Gagne’s Nine Events of
Instruction
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Gaining Attention
Informing the Learner of the Objective
Stimulating Recall of Prior Learning
Presenting the Stimulus
Providing Learner Guidance
Eliciting Performance
Giving Feedback
Assessing Performance
Enhancing Retention and Transfer
Pnemonic Devices
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G
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S
P
P
E
G
A
E
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G
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S
P
P
E
G
A
E
Technology Implementation
 http://www.lessonplanspage.com/matht
ellingtimeto5minutes2-htm/
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
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Taxonomy skills are
used in everyday lifeapplicable to real life
Student-centered
approach
Systematic, step-bystep logical
approach
Weaknesses
 Very detailedTeacher could
become
overwhelmed
 Not all lessons will
necessarily follow
the taxonomy of
learning outcomes
Behaviorism vs. Constructivism
 Behaviorism
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Observed changes in behavior, automatic
function
 Constructivism
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Individual experiences, problem solving in
different situations
Constructivism
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Through the nine events of instruction and the
taxonomy of learning outcomes, the student
is prepared to problem solve. The student will
be able to apply what is learned in the
classroom and apply it to real life.
Gagne’s 3 main principles for his learning
theory have to do with following steps to solve
a problem or come up with a finished
product. Teachers help guide students
through these steps by following Gagne’s 9
events of instruction.
References
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George Mason University. Gagne’s Five Learned
Capabilities. Retrieved from
http://classweb.gmu.edu/ndabbagh/Resources/Resources
2/gagnetax.htm
Instructional Development Timeline. Retrieved from
http://myecoach.com/project.php?id=12152&project_step=28465
University of Florida. (2011, Oct 31). Gagne’s 9 Events of
Instruction. Retrieved from
http://www.citt.ufl.edu/toolbox/toolbox_gagne9Events.php
Virginia Tech University. Robert Mills Gagne. Retrieved from
http://www.nvc.vt.edu/alhrd/Theorists/Gagne.htm