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Unit–25: Programmed Learning/Instruction

25.1 Meaning of Programmed Learning Notes

In the words of Smith and Moore, “Programmed instruction is the process of arranging the material to
be learned into a series of sequential steps, usually it moves the student from a familiar background into
a complex and new set of concept principles and understanding.”
According to James E. Espich and Berl Williams, “Programmed instruction is a planned sequence of
experiences leading to proficiency in terms of stimulus response relationship”.

Stoffel said, “The arrangements of tiny bits of knowledge into logical sequence is called the ‘programmed’
and its process is called, ‘Programmed Learning’.”
According to Leith, “Programmed learning is a sequence of small steps of instructional material (called
Games), most of which require a response to be made by completing a blank space in a sentence. To
ensure that expected responses are given, a system of cueing is applied and each response is verifi ed by
the provision of immediate knowledge of results.”
N.S. Mavi says, “Programmed instruction is a technique of converting the live-instructional process
into self-learning or auto instructional readable material if the form of micro-sequence of subject-matter
which the learners are required to read and make some response, the correctness or incorrectness of
which is told to him immediately.”
According to Susan Markle, “Programmed instruction is a method of designing reproducible sequence
of instructional events to produce measurable and consistent effect on the behaviours of each and every
acceptable student.”

James E. Espich and Berl Williams has defined programmed instruction as, “Programmed instruction

is a planned sequence of experiences leading to proficiency in terms of stimulus-response relationship.”
According to D.L. Cook, “Programmed learning is a term sometimes used synonymously to refer to the
broader concept of auto-instructional method.”

On the basis of discussion of above definition it can be said that programmed learning
is that instruction in which learning material is sequenced in a series by dividing it into
small units and by presenting it to the students in a sequenced manner, education of new
and complex learning content can provided according to own pace with least errors. In
these activities, feedback is given to students by this knowledge of his progress.

25.2 Characteristics of Programmed Learning Material

Following are the main characteristics of Programmed Learning Material—
1. Programmed Instruction is individual and only person learns at a time.
2. The learning material is divided into small units.
3. Then small units are sequenced.
4. In programmed material, every phase is practically connected to its next phase in a logical manner
5. Learner has to make active responses.
6. Information is immediately provided to students that their effort is right or wrong. Thus they receive
the feedback.
7. Students get the opportunity to learn at their own pace. (Principle of Self Pacing)

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