THE NEXT TOP (LEARNING) MODEL: GAGNÉ’S NINE EVENTS OF INSTRUCTION
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Does Your Training Actually Teach? Gagné’s Nine Events of Instruction Might Be the Missing Link
You’ve got the content, the LMS, the slick graphics. But your learners still aren’t quite getting it.
Why?
Have you put as much thought into how you teach it as you have into what you teach? That’s where Gagné’s Nine Events of Instruction comes in. It’s a structured, research-backed approach to designing learning that sticks.
First developed by educational psychologist Robert M. Gagné, this model outlines a nine-step sequence that mirrors how our brains process and retain information. Think of it as a step-by-step guide for creating learning experiences that maximise effectiveness.
What Are Gagné’s Nine Events of Instruction?
Here’s the lineup. Each event builds on the last to support attention, retention, understanding, and application:
Gain attention – Spark curiosity with a surprising fact, question, or story.
Inform learners of objectives – Tell them what they’ll learn and why it matters.
Stimulate recall of prior learning – Connect new content to what they already know.
Present the content – Deliver the material clearly and engagingly.
Provide learning guidance – Offer support, examples, and strategies to aid understanding.
Elicit performance – Give learners the chance to try it out themselves.
Provide feedback – Offer timely, constructive feedback on their performance.
Assess performance – Evaluate understanding with aligned assessments.
Enhance retention and transfer – Reinforce learning and show how to apply it in real life.
This isn’t just theory. It’s a practical checklist for ensuring your digital learning solutions are genuinely transformative.
Why Gagné Still Matters (And Why Your Business Should Care)
In a time where attention spans are short and training budgets are scrutinised, the stakes have never been higher. Gagné’s model offers you a powerful edge:
Higher engagement – It’s built to grab attention and hold it.
Stronger retention – Structured reinforcement helps learning stick.
Faster application – Learners put what they know into practice.
Clearer ROI – The model helps you track progress from first click to real-world change.
In short, it’s good business.
How to Use Gagné’s Model in Your Next Learning Intervention
Let’s say you’re launching a compliance module or a leadership training programme. Here’s how Gagné’s nine events might look in action:
Gagné Event | Example in Practice |
1. Gain attention | Start with a story about a real compliance breach. |
2. Inform objectives | “By the end, you’ll know how to report risks and why it matters.” Check out our recent blog on Bloom’s Taxonomy to help with this. |
3. Stimulate recall | Ask, “When have you faced an ethical dilemma at work?” |
4. Present content | Use animated videos, infographics or short reading chunks. |
5. Provide guidance | Include tips, checklists, and job aids. |
6. Elicit performance | Use scenario-based quizzes or drag-and-drop tasks. |
7. Provide feedback | Offer instant feedback that explains why an answer is correct or not. |
8. Assess performance | Use a final case study assessment or knowledge test. |
9. Enhance retention | Send a follow-up nudge or job-based checklist 30 days later. |
You don’t have to use all nine steps every time. But even weaving in a few can elevate your course from information delivery to learning design.
How Popcorn Uses Gagné to Build Better Learning
At Popcorn Learning Agency, we don’t believe in content for content’s sake. We use models like Gagné’s Nine Events to create learning experiences that are grounded in how people actually learn.
Here’s how we bring it to life:
Creative attention-grabbers using video, animation and storytelling.
Clear learning objectives aligned to business goals.
Guided learning pathways with built-in feedback and support.
Retention strategies like job aids, microlearning and follow-up prompts.
This approach feeds directly into our instructional design services, interactive eLearning, and learning impact evaluation, ensuring every piece of custom eLearning content we create is meaningful, measurable, and memorable.
Final Thoughts: The 9-Step Secret to Real Learning
If your training is missing the mark, it’s time to look beyond tech and content. Gagné’s Nine Events reminds us that learning is a process, not just a set of slides.
And when you follow that process thoughtfully, you don’t just deliver training. You change behaviour. You boost confidence. You drive business results.
Now that’s what good learning should do.
Want to see how Gagné’s model can supercharge your next training programme? Popcorn’s team of learning experts is ready to help. Get in touch, or follow us on LinkedIn for more insights from Popcorn’s Next Top (Learning) Model.
