Cambourne's Conditions

Brian Cambourne wrote, The Whole Story. In this work he tells about 7 conditions for learning. Since engagement and enthusiasm are at the core of my research, I thought it was interesting that he made the following points:

• Engagement occurs when the learner is convinced that they have the potential to do what is being modeled before them.


• That the teacher is demonstrating something that will further the purposes of his or her life.


• That they can engage without fear of physical or psychological hurt if they answer incorrectly.

He states that the conditions increase the probability for engagement. His conditions are:

• RESPONSIBILITY (Learners need to make their own decisions about when, how, and what 'bits' to learn in an educational task.)


• USE (Learners need time to practice the new skills in realistic contexts)


• EXPECTATION (Learners need to feel our high expectations)


• APPROXIMATION (Learners must understand that mistakes are part of the process)


• RESPONSE (Learners must receive feedback that is timely, appropriate, relevant)


• IMMERSION (Learners must experience the skill fully)


• DEMONSTRATION (Learners need a variety demonstrations)

All in all we have a scholar that is identifying conditions for learning of which he states that these conditions also increase the probability for engagement. Has anyone written about the conditions for engagement?

Is there a tool to measure these conditions?