What Are Merrill's First Principles of Instruction

Great teaching doesn't only mean information should be presented in a clear and organized manner. The information must also stick. For that to happen, the instructional design must acknowledge the way people learn and process new information.

M. David Merrill, a renowned educator and Professor Emeritus at Utah State University, has developed First Principles of Instruction to fulfill this need. Many educators and authors agree on these principles' fundamental nature and their effectiveness.

In this guide, we explain the First Principles of Instruction in detail and cover how you can use them to create online courses that deliver results and keep students engaged.

What Are the First Principles of Instruction?

David Merrill's First Principles of Instruction is a set of five guidelines that are based on the idea that all effective teaching follows the same core principles, regardless of the setting or the subject. The approach doesn't limit itself to delivering information. Instead, it emphasizes real-world problem-solving and active learning.

A good comparison could be learning to ride a bike. You wouldn't start with a lecture on physics, would you? Instead, you'd begin with training wheels and get some guidance from someone. Then, you practice and eventually learn how to balance and ride without assistance.

The First Principles of Instruction focus on creating a similar scaffolded learning experience for online courses. It says that learners should engage with knowledge actively rather than just absorbing it passively.

Now, let's look at the 5 principles of this approach.

Task or Problem-Centered

Merrill says that people learn best when they work on solving a real problem rather than just learning facts. The idea behind this postulate is to engage learners with challenges that are relevant to their goals.

Take a programming course as an example. Right off the bat, students can be given a challenge, such as creating a simple time management app. This way, as they learn, they apply the knowledge to the challenge at hand.

Activation

New learning builds on what we already know. Merrill emphasizes the importance of activating prior knowledge before introducing new concepts.

In simple words, students tend to learn more when they can recall prior knowledge using directions provided in the course material. For example, in the coding course, students can be asked to think about how they would solve the given challenge using their current knowledge before getting into new concepts.

Demonstration

Learners grasp concepts faster when they see models, demonstrations, or clear examples instead of just reading explanations. In short, showing is better than telling. In eLearning, this could mean the educator showing a video demonstration of the task or problem being solved, along with a step-by-step explanation.

Application

Students must apply and practice their knowledge to truly understand it. Merrill stresses that learning takes place when students do and not just listen. The educators should also provide feedback and appropriate guidance to students throughout the process.

Integration

The final principle in Merrill's approach is integration, which means that learners should reflect on and discuss their new skills. They should then apply it in different contexts.

For example, once students have made the time management app, they can then be asked to use the knowledge they've gained throughout the course to create a different software or app. Educators can also divide students into discussion groups so that they can share insights and learn from one another.

Merrill's Principles vs. Other Learning Theories

Merrill's First Principles of Instruction aren't the only framework for effective learning. Many other educational theories exist, each with its own approach. So, how does Merrill's model compare? We do a comparison below.

Merrill's Principles vs. Bloom's Taxonomy

Bloom's Taxonomy organizes learning into six levels, from remembering to creating. It's a useful guide for structuring learning objectives but doesn't provide a clear method for teaching.

These levels include:

• Remembering: Recalling facts and information
• Understanding: Comprehending ideas and concepts
• Applying: Using knowledge in a practical setting
• Analyzing: Breaking down information to understand its parts
• Evaluating: Making judgments based on criteria and evidence
• Creating: Combining ideas to form something new

While Bloom's Taxonomy is more about classifying learning stages rather than guiding instruction, Merrill's framework is action-oriented. For example, a science class using Bloom's Taxonomy might first focus on defining key terms, while Merrill's approach would start with a real-world problem, like designing a simple experiment.

Merrill's Principles vs. Constructivism

Constructivism suggests that learners construct their own knowledge based on experiences. It emphasizes exploration and discovery, often with minimal direct instruction. Basically, learners are encouraged to actively seek out information and build their own understanding.

Meanwhile, Merrill's model is more structured, with specific steps for instruction and activities designed to guide learners toward a specific goal. 

However, both theories prioritize hands-on learning and active engagement in the learning process. They also both reject the idea of passive knowledge transfer from teacher to learner.

Merrill's Principles vs. Gagné's Nine Events of Instruction

Gagné's model outlines nine steps for effective teaching. These are:

1. Gain attention
2. Inform learners of the objective
3. Stimulate recall of prior learning
4. Present content in small steps
5. Provide guidance for learning
6. Elicit performance from learners
7. Give feedback on performance
8. Assess performance
9. Enhance retention and transfer to other contexts

Like Merrill's model, Gagné's approach is also more structured and prescriptive compared to Bloom's Taxonomy. However, it provides a detailed instructional sequence, whereas Merrill's principles focus on core learning conditions rather than specific steps.

If we were to apply both in a sales training course, Gagné's model might start with a motivational story. However, Merrill's model would jump straight into a real-world sales challenge for learners to solve.

How to Use First Principles of Instruction in Creating eLearning Experiences

Here's how you can apply First Principles of Instruction to eLearning. We'll use the example of a sales course to further exhibit how each step can be implemented practically.

Start with a Real-World Problem

People learn best when they tackle real challenges. Instead of overwhelming learners with sales theory, start with a scenario that mirrors their job. For example, you can create a scenario such as the student being on a call with a potential customer who keeps hesitating.

The scenario will engage the students since they now have to come up with ways to keep the customers engaged. They will also feel motivated and take ownership of their learning.

Activate Prior Knowledge

Before introducing new sales strategies, help learners connect them to what they already know. You can ask them to think of a time when they successfully convinced a friend or family member to buy a product or choose a restaurant to eat at. Let them reflect on what worked back then. Then, you can introduce the concept of persuasion and how it applies to sales.

Demonstrate with Real-World Examples

To further help learners connect the dots, show them real-world action through simulations or case studies. You may show them a video of an experienced salesperson handling an objection from a hesitant customer.

The video pauses at key moments to explain why certain techniques, like mirroring customer concerns or asking open-ended questions, work effectively. You'll need a learning management system (LMS) or course platform that supports this type of interactivity to get this step right.

Coursebox is a stellar choice since it supports several interactive elements and visuals. You can also add quizzes and assessments to your courses using the platform's AI. 

The platform also comes with an AI chatbot tutor (trained on your course) that can provide extra guidance to students when they're stuck.

Encourage Active Application

We've already explained that learners must practice new skills to master them. Your course should provide interactive activities that require your learners to apply the strategies you've taught them.

For example, they might encounter a simulated sales call where they must handle objections and close a sale successfully. You can also ask them to role-play with each other or complete written exercises that test their understanding of different tactics. As they're doing this, provide them with feedback on their responses.

Integrate Learning for Long-Term Retention

Reflection and discussion are important aspects of eLearning. You must offer opportunities for your learners to apply their new skills in various scenarios. For example, give them a sales simulation to handle from start to finish. Then, offer feedback on their performance.

The course might also encourage them to share their experiences in a discussion forum. Students can learn a lot from their peers while reflecting back on their own experiences.

Conclusion

It won't be wrong to say that Merrill's First Principles of Instruction can make eLearning more interactive and impactful. However, you'll need the perfect combination of technology and course curation to achieve these results.

Fortunately, Coursebox handles the tech requirements by providing AI-powered course-building capabilities, an AI assessment generator, an AI chatbot tutor, and support for multimedia and interactive elements. As for the course design, you can use case studies and real-world situations to reinforce learning for long-term success.