Instructional theory is a theory that offers explicit guidance on how to help people learn and develop, distinguishing itself from a learning theory by prescribing how to improve instruction rather than merely describing how learning happens on its own. The field is generally traced to the late 1970s in the United States and draws heavily on Benjamin Bloom's 1956 taxonomy of educational objectives; Robert M. Gagne is widely regarded as one of its first major theorists, publishing The Conditions of Learning in 1965, while David Merrill later contributed First Principles of Instruction, identifying instructional methods that apply across teaching situations alongside others suited to particular circumstances. Instructional theory draws on three broader educational perspectives: behaviorism, which explains learning through conformity to reinforced standards; cognitivism, which explains learning through the formation of mental associations; and constructivism, which explains learning as something learners build through activity. These perspectives together inform the instructional design practices that educators use to plan teaching and structure material for effective learning across a wide range of educational settings.
Facts
Core ClaimInstructional theory holds that learning and development can be deliberately improved by prescribing specific instructional methods and conditions, distinguishing it from a learning theory, which only describes how learning happens on its own. 1 Origin Year1965 marks Robert M. Gagne's Conditions of Learning, named by the source as one of the first instructional theory works; the source separately describes the field's own label as originating in the United States in the late 1970s. No Robert M. Gagne entry exists in this atlas to link to yet. FAQs
How is instructional theory different from learning theory?
A learning theory describes how learning happens; an instructional theory prescribes how to help people learn better.
A learning theory describes how learning takes place, while an instructional theory prescribes how to better help people learn. Learning theories often inform instructional theory, and three general stances take part in that influence: behaviorism, which treats learning as response acquisition; cognitivism, which treats it as knowledge acquisition; and constructivism, which treats it as knowledge construction. The goal of instructional theory is to understand the instructional system and to improve the process of instruction.
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In Approach
Source Instructional Theory (Wikipedia)
Source Instructional Theory (Wikipedia)
Source Instructional Theory (Wikipedia)
Informed By
Source Instructional Theory (Wikipedia)
Sources
1. Instructional Theory (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationDevelopment section (Gagne, 1965)
One of the first instructional theorists was Robert M. Gagne, who in 1965 published Conditions of Learning for the Florida State University's Department of Educational Research.
Lead paragraph, education-level
An instructional theory is "a theory that offers explicit guidance on how to better help people learn and develop." It provides insights about what is likely to happen and why with respect to different kinds of teaching and learning activities while helping indicate approaches for their evaluation.
Informed By: Benjamin Bloom, Development section (Bloom, 1956)
Instructional theory is heavily influenced by the 1956 work of Benjamin Bloom, a University of Chicago professor, and the results of his Taxonomy of Education Objectives-one of the first modern codifications of the learning process.
In Approach: Behaviourism, Body
Originating in the United States in the late 1970s, instructional theory is influenced by three basic theories in educational thought: behaviorism, the theory that helps us understand how people conform to predetermined standards; cognitivism, the theory that learning occurs through mental associations; and constructivism, the theory explores the value of human activity as a critical function of gaining knowledge.
In Approach: Cognitivism, Body
Originating in the United States in the late 1970s, instructional theory is influenced by three basic theories in educational thought: behaviorism, the theory that helps us understand how people conform to predetermined standards; cognitivism, the theory that learning occurs through mental associations; and constructivism, the theory explores the value of human activity as a critical function of gaining knowledge.
In Approach: Constructivism, Body
Originating in the United States in the late 1970s, instructional theory is influenced by three basic theories in educational thought: behaviorism, the theory that helps us understand how people conform to predetermined standards; cognitivism, the theory that learning occurs through mental associations; and constructivism, the theory explores the value of human activity as a critical function of gaining knowledge.
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