How To Deliver Online Lessons Using Gagne’s 9 Events of Instruction

Delivering online lessons can be a daunting task, but it doesn't have to be. By using Gagne's Nine Events of Instruction, you can create engaging and effective online lessons that your students will love! In this blog post, we will discuss each of the nine events and show you how to apply them in an online setting.

The first event in Gagne's Nine Events of Instruction is to gain attention. This event is designed to capture the students' attention and interest and get them ready to learn. In an online setting, you can use a variety of strategies to accomplish this. One option is to start with a short video or audio clip that relates to the topic of your lesson. You could also ask a question that will get your students thinking about the lesson content. There are tons of ways to grab students’ attention but make sure it is something that will keep them engaged.

The second event is the objective or purpose event. In this event, you will need to clearly state the objectives or goals of the lesson. When writing objectives, be sure to use language that is clear and concise. Your students should be able to read the objectives and understand what they are supposed to learn from the lesson. In an online setting, you can post the objectives in a variety of places. One option is to create a slide with the objectives and include it in your Google Slides. Another option is to place it in the assignment description directly in your learning management system or LMS. 

The third event is to activate prior knowledge.  In this event, you will need to help your students connect new information with what they already know. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways, but one option is to have students brainstorm what they already know about the topic. For online classes, you can create a Google Jamboard and have students type their responses and collaborate on the document. Or, you could create a Padlet wall and have students post their ideas there. Once everyone has had a chance to contribute, you can start making connections between the prior knowledge and the new information.

The fourth event is to present the content. This event is all about providing information or stimuli that will help your students achieve the lesson objectives. In an online setting, there are many ways to provide content. You could create a Google Slides that includes pictures and information about the topic. You could also create a video or audio clip that provides information about the topic. Again there are a ton of options for getting the information to the students. Just make sure it is something that will help your students learn the content of the lesson.

The fifth event is all about providing guidance. This would be the "we do" part of the gradual release of responsibility technique and is meant to help students retain what they have learned. This could include things like practice problems, examples, labs, and worksheets. 

The sixth event is the practice phase. This event is all about getting your students to interact with the content of the lesson. There are many ways to get your students to interact with the content even in an online class. One option is to use something like Flipgrid or Padlet where students can post questions and comments about the lesson. Another simple option is to use a Google Doc where students can write down their thoughts and ideas about the lesson. You can also have them create something fun like a comic strip, video, or podcast about what they learned. Let them show off their knowledge of the subject they are learning.

The seventh event is the feedback event. This event is all about providing feedback to your students about their performance on the lesson objectives. In an online setting, there are many ways to provide feedback. One option is to use the commenting feature in Google Docs and Slides. Another option is to use something like Mote or Loom to record audio or video feedback for the students. 

The eighth event is the assessment event. This event is all about assessing your students' understanding of the lesson objectives. In an online setting, you could use a quiz or test that covers the content of the lesson. Another option is to do some sort of creative project. Students should be able to demonstrate their understanding of the lesson in some way.

The ninth event is to enhance retention and learning transfer.  This event is all about helping your students remember the content of the lesson and be able to apply it to other situations. Have them look at how this lesson is used in the real world or how it connects to other subjects and content. The goal here is to help them see the importance of the lesson and cement it in their memories. 

As you can see, Gagne’s Nine Events of Instruction are just as relevant in an online setting as they are in a traditional classroom. If you want to create successful online courses that engage your students and help them learn, use these principles as your guide. And if you need more help getting started, be sure to grab the 10 apps for Teachers who are Broke as a Joke! It shows you my favorite programs to use in my online classroom and how to use them in your own classroom!