Bruner’s Theory of Instruction – (Teaching) – 4 elements

1. Readiness: Learners should have a pre-disposition

to learning.
• Readiness is promoted through motivation – the
most effective motivation is problem solving
• Problem solving arouses curiosity (arrival activities –
asking, not telling)

2. Structure: The content must be structured so that

learners understand it (delivery).
• The content should be represented in 3 ways:
• Enactive representation (demos)
• Iconic representation (images)
• Symbolic representation (symbols)

Sequence: Material must be presented in a sequence

giving the learners the opportunity to acquire, transform
and transfer learning (objectives)
• Spiral Curriculum: Learners re-visit ideas and
concepts over a period of time but at increasingly
complex levels. (Teaching and Learning strategies)
 4. Motivation: The nature and pacing of rewards.

• Intially learners may be motivated by positive

feedback (extrinsic motivation)
• Ideally they will move towards intrinsic motivation
(Principles of andragogy) which comes from the
satisfaction of solving problems and developing new
ones to be solved.

Your Task – Transformation

Discuss with a small group/partner the implications of

Bruner’s theory of instruction (teaching) for you as
teachers. Present this discussion in a way that is
meaningful to you on an individual mind map.