Merrill's First Principles of Instruction
Many current instructional design models suggest that the most effective
learning environments are those that are problem-based and involve the student
in four distinct phases of learning: (1) activation of prior experience, (2)
demonstration of skills, (3) application of skills, and (4) integration or these
skills into real world activities. Figure 2 below illustrates these five ideas.
Much instructional practice concentrates primarily on phase 2 and ignores the
other phases in this cycle of learning.
Figure 1 First Principles of Instruction Diagram
At the top level the instructional design prescriptions based on first
principles are as follows:
Learning is facilitated when existing knowledge is activated as a foundation for new knowledge
Many current instructional design models suggest that the most effective
learning environments are those that are problem-based and involve the student
in four distinct phases of learning: (1) activation of prior experience, (2)
demonstration of skills, (3) application of skills, and (4) integration or these
skills into real world activities. Figure 2 below illustrates these five ideas.
Much instructional practice concentrates primarily on phase 2 and ignores the
other phases in this cycle of learning.
Figure 1 First Principles of Instruction Diagram
At the top level the instructional design prescriptions based on first
principles are as follows:
- Learning is facilitated when learners knowledge is activated as a foundation for new knowledge
- Learning is facilitated when learners are engaged in solving real-world
problems.
- Learning is facilitated when new knowledge is demonstrated to the
learner.
Learning is facilitated when existing knowledge is activated as a foundation for new knowledge