Weekly Reflection

Due: November 15, 2005

"Gagne"

If we grade our current educational system using Gagne’s Instructional Theory, we would find that our system is seriously lacking examples of “good instruction.”  Other than the fact that learners participate as processors of information, nothing else about Gagne’s theory would probably apply.  In our present system, learners rarely (1) identify their own learning outcomes, (2) arrange for conditions of learning, or (3) supply their own events of instruction.  These are three roles of the learner as identified by Gagne.  Regarding the role of the instructor, I agree with Gagne.  Driscoll states that in Gagne’s Instructional Theory, the role of the instructor is to “Systematically arrange conditions of learning and events of instruction based on desired learning outcomes and learner characteristics.” However, what if the learner is not “ready” to process the information that the instructor arranges?