What are the first and last steps of Gagne's nine events of instruction?

The first and last steps of Gagne's nine events of instruction are to gain attention initially and to enhance retention at the end. Gagne emphasizes the importance of engaging learners right from the beginning; capturing their attention is critical to ensure they are focused and ready to learn. This first step sets the stage for effective instruction.

The last step, enhancing retention, reinforces material learned during instruction. It often involves activities that help learners retrieve and apply information, ensuring that the knowledge is not only retained but also long-lasting. Retention is crucial in education as it determines how well learners can access and utilize the information in practical situations.

Together, these two steps frame the learning process, leading to an effective educational experience. The other options, while related to elements of Gagne's framework, do not represent the specific first and last steps, thereby making them less suited to the question at hand.