Types of Information TO OPTIMIZE LEARNING, INFORMATION MUST BE logically organized and made explicit to the learner. This page will focus on the types of information presented in a training program and the levels of performance expected of learners for each type of information. Instructional Technology Instructional technology is a systematic approach to planning, developing, and evaluating training. All training consists of four main ingredients that must be separately addressed by the instructional designer (Clark, 1999). They are: • Information: the content of the training • Performance Outcomes: learning objectives of the training • Instructional Methods: techniques used to ensure transfer of information to the learner • Instructional Media: the mode or device used to deliver the information Content Performance Matrix: A Learning Model According to M.D. Merrill (1997), learning can be classified along two dimensions: performance level and informational content. His model, the Content-Performance Matrix (CPM), is illustrated below.   Content Performance Level Facts Concepts Procedures Process Principles Remember * * * * * Apply * * * * In order to determine the most effective instructional method to use in a training program, the instructional designer must identify both the type of informational content that will be presented and the performance level expected of the learner. Levels of Performance The level of performance is determined from the written learning objectives. Based on the CPM model, the content of instruction can be learned at two levels of performance: • Remember: Learner will recognize or memorize the information • Apply: Learner will use the information to perform a task Types of Information There are five types of information: facts, concepts, procedures, processes, and principles. A description of each type of information is provided in the table below, as well as an example of learning objectives for each level of performance. Type of Information Description Example Fact Go Back A unique bit of information that identifies an object, person, place, or date. •••Performance Level••• Remember: Recall the fact. Remember-Level Example: State your driver's license number. Concept Go Back A category of items or ideas that share comon features.     •••Performance Level••• Remember: Recall the features or definition of the concept. Remember-Level Example: Describe the features of a cheetah. Apply: Discriminate the target concept from other concepts. Apply-Level Example: Distinguish between a cheetah and a leopard. Procedure Go Back A series of steps that show how to make or do something.       •••Performance Level••• Remember: Recall the steps of the procedure. Remember-Level Example: Describe how to brush your teeth. Apply: Do the procedure. Apply-Level Example: Brush your teeth. Process Go Back A description of how something works or operates.     •••Performance Level••• Remember: Recall the major steps of the process. Remember-Level Example: Describe the process of photosynthesis. Apply: Solve a problem or make an inference based on the knowledge of how the process works. Apply-Level Example: Explain why plants can live in a closed system, such as a terarium. Principle Go Back Rules, heuristics, guidelines, criteria that predict an outcome.   •••Performance Level••• Remember: Recall the rules, heuristics, guidelines, or criteria. Remember-Level Example: Paraphrase the school guidelines for writing perfect papers. Apply: Implement the guidelines or criteria in a specific situation. Apply-Level Example: Prepare a research paper using the school guidelines for writing perfect research papers. Click here to try a practice exercise. Further Information Clark, R.C. (1999). Developing Technical Training (2nd ed.). Washington D. C. : International Society for Performance Improvement. Kathy Tyner , M.S.