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Conditions of Learning

From Aronson and Briggs (1983) p 83

Gagne described two kinds of conditions of learning: internal and external.

1) Internal conditions (primarily recall) - acquisitioni and storage of prior capabilities tha the learner has acquired that are either essential to or supportive of subsequent learning.

2) External conditions - various ways that instructional events outside the learner function to activate and support the internal processes of learning.


::Type of Learning
Internal Conditions
External Conditions

:: Cognitive strategy
I - recall of relevant rules and concepts
E - successive presentation (usually over an extended period of time) of novel problem situations with class of solution unspecified; demonstration of solution by student

:: Verbal information
I - recall of larger meaningful context
E - present new informatioin in larger context

:: Attitude
I - recall of information and intellectual skills relevant to the targeted personal actions
E- establishment or recall of respect for "source" (usually a person)

:: Motor skill
I - recall of component motor chains
E - establishment or recall of executive subroutine (rules); practice of total skill

Internal condition - recall
External condition - stimulating recall

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In view of my own theory, Gagne has sliced things up a little bit differently. I don't know that a distinction between internal and external is all that useful. Gange's internal conditions correspond to my own notions of sequence, contrast, and significance. His external conditions correspond to my notions of practice, environment, and agents.

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