Instructional theory

Instructional theory is a discipline that focuses on how to structure material for promoting the education of humans, particularly youth. Originating in the United States in the late 1970s, instructional theory is typically divided into two categories: the cognitive and behaviorist schools of thought. Instructional theory was spawned off 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.

Related Topics:
Benjamin Bloom - Taxonomy of Education Objectives

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One of the first instructional theorists was Robert M. Gagne, who in 1977 published Conditions of Learning for the Florida State University's Department of Educational Research.

Related Topics:
Robert M. Gagne - Conditions of Learning

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Renowned psychologist B. F. Skinner's theories on behavior were highly influencial on instructional theoriests, because their hypotheses can be tested fairly easily with the scientific process. It is more difficult to demonstrate cognitive learning results. Paulo Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed ? first published in English in 1968 ? had a broad influence over a generation of American educators with his critique of various "banking" models of education and analysis of the teacher-student relationship.

Related Topics:
B. F. Skinner - Scientific process - Paulo Freire

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In the context of e-learning, a major discussion in instructional theory is the potential of learning objects to structure and deliver content. There are currently many groups trying to set standards for the development and implementation of learning objects. At the forefront of the standards groups is the Department of Defense's Advanced Distributed Learning initiative with its SCORM standards. SCORM stands for Shareable Content Object Reference Model.

Related Topics:
E-learning - Learning object - Department of Defense - Advanced Distributed Learning - SCORM

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