Conditions of Learning

Robert M. Gagne's book Conditions of Learning, originally published in 1965 by Holt, Rinehart and Winston, describes eight kinds of learning and nine events of instruction. This theory of learning involved two steps his theory stipulates that there are several different types or levels of learning. The significance of these classifications is that each different type requires different types of instruction. Gagne identifies five major categories of learning: verbal information, intellectual skills, cognitive strategies, motor skills and attitudes. Different internal and external conditions are necessary for each type of learning. For example, for cognitive strategies to be learned, there must be a chance to practice developing new solutions to problems; to learn attitudes, the learner must be exposed to a credible role model or persuasive arguments.