P A F

Presentation, Application, and Feedback (PAF). These are the three elements of FKA’s learning model in the systematic learning process. This is a simple yet effective model that can help instructional designers develop training that works.

In the Presentation phase, new knowledge and skills are presented to the learner. But before the information is passed on, the motive for the information transfer is established. The motive answers the learner’s question: what’s in it for me? (WIIFM). The presentation phase also includes a test for understanding to ensure that learning has indeed happened.

In the Application phase, the learner is given an opportunity to practice or use the skills and knowledge just presented. This phase is important because people learn by doing.

In the Feedback phase, the learner is given constructive feedback to reinforce the skills and knowledge just used. The learner is also offered suggestions for improvement.

Not surprisingly, the PAF model roughly aligns with the nine instructional events from Robert Gagne’s Conditions of Learning. The nine events are gain attention, inform learners of objectives, stimulate recall of prior learning, present the content, provide learning guidance, elicit performance, provide feedback, assess performance, and enhance retention and transfer.

FKA also recommends that the presentation phase should take
30-40% of the learner’s time, whereas the application and feedback phases should take up the rest of the time (60-70%). Adhering to this time allocation guideline is extremely important in developing effective training programmes.

Many training programs do not allot sufficient time for the application and feedback phases of the systematic learning process. This could be a major reason for the overabundance of inadequate and ineffective training courses that we see around us.