Merrill’s first principles

Merrill’s first principles of Instruction

Following a survey of instructional theories and models, Merrill demonstrated that there are first principles of instruction that are similar regardless of theory or philosophical orientation which when implemented in a particular program or instruction would then result in a corresponding increase in the quality and amount of learning that will occur.

These first principles derived are:


 * 1) Learning is promoted when learners engage in a task-centered instructional strategy, the task-centered principle.
 * 2) Learning is promoted when learners activate prior knowledge or experience, the activation principle.
 * 3) Learning is promoted when learners observe a demonstration, the demonstration principle.
 * 4) Learning is promoted when learners apply the new knowledge, the application principle.
 * 5) Learning is promoted when learners integrate their new knowledge into their everyday world, the integration principle.

You may read more about Merrill's first principles by visiting the page on [Edutechwiki|http://edutechwiki.unige.ch/en/First_principles_of_instruction] from the University of Geneva