David Merrill

David Merrill is an educational researcher best known for developing the First Principles of Instruction, a framework for designing effective learning experiences. He emphasizes that good instruction should start with clear goals, activate prior knowledge, demonstrate new skills clearly, provide opportunities for practice, and offer meaningful feedback. His approach focuses on making learning engaging and efficient by aligning teaching methods with how people naturally acquire and apply knowledge. Merrill’s work is widely influential in curriculum design, online education, and training, helping educators create instructional materials that promote better understanding and retention.