The Simplifying Conditions Method (SCM) is a set of guidelines for task analysis and sequencing of instructional content under the Elaboration Theory (ET). This article introduces the fundamentals of SCM and presents the findings from a formative research study on SCM. It was conducted in two distinct phases: design and instruction. In the first phase, the SCM process was used to design a course in order to determine the weaknesses of the SCM process. In the second phase, the course was taught using the SCM sequence in order to determine the weaknesses of SCM principles. Results suggest that the current SCM process is workable; however, three recommendations were offered: (1) the need to stress the holistic rather than the step-by-step approach; (2) the need to add more detailed prescriptions; and (3) the need for formative evaluation. Second, the study yielded no critical weaknesses that might lead to possible improvements in the SCM principles, since most of the learners were very satisfied with the sequence of the instruction. Three figures present results. (Contains 34 references.) (AEF)