Design is not just what it looks like or feels like, but how it works - Steve Jobs
What is Instructional Design?
There are many definitions available for instructional design. In general, it refers to the systematic process by which instructional material is designed, developed and delivered. As with learning theory, there are a number of established models of instructional design. An outline of three of the widely recognised models is provided in the following sections.
The ADDIE MODEL
The ADDIE model is the most established and copied method of instructional design in common use. ADDIE is an acronym for a systematic instructional design process which was developed by the US army in the 1970's from an original concept to follow a sequence as follows:
- Analyse – who are the stakeholders, who needs to be trained, what training is needed, what resources are needed
- Design – learner profiling, learning objectives, assessment methods, delivery method, resources/media to be used, level and type of activity
- Develop – course materials created and assembled, roles assigned, materials tested and feedback given
- Implement – course materials and learning objects are implemented, monitoring takes place, strengths and weaknesses are analysed and inform revisions and redesign
- Evaluate – determines the metrics by which the effectiveness of the project will be evaluated, e.g. categories, data collection methods, systems for analysing feedback, methods of establishing validity and reliability
The ASSURE Model
The ASSURE Model is a good example of a derivative of ADDIE. It was developed by Heinich, Molenda, Russel and Smaldino (1999) and used extensively in national and second level schools and teacher training in the USA. The ‘analyse’ phase may be less comprehensive as it is assumed that curricula have already been set and there is not much freedom to vary content. The similarities though with ADDIE are plain to see in the figure below.
SAM
The Successive Approximation
Model (SAM) is a more dynamic and agile derivative of ADDIE which emphasises
collaboration, efficiency and collaboration (Allen, 2012). It takes an iterative approach by
making repeated small steps in the ID process where learning objects can be
designed and developed to point where they are representative of the look and
feel of the final product. This allows for group collaboration providing
testing opportunities and feedback which lead to revisions. This fluid approach
avoids major changes in the latter stages of development and keeps everyone
involved aware of look and tone of the learning resources being developed.
We adopted this model for our group project. It was suited to the approach that we were taking and also helped to overcome some of the communication barriers that we had as a group working physically apart for the majority of the time. By assigning roles, which included week to week development of draft learning objects, we were able to see clearly as a group how well we were aligning with the learner persona and the visual consistency of separately developed parts.
We adopted this model for our group project. It was suited to the approach that we were taking and also helped to overcome some of the communication barriers that we had as a group working physically apart for the majority of the time. By assigning roles, which included week to week development of draft learning objects, we were able to see clearly as a group how well we were aligning with the learner persona and the visual consistency of separately developed parts.
Group Project Development
The learning resource developed in our group project was a pre-college course to include an assignment writing and referencing guide. Using the SAM model, we decided to develop PowerPoint slides for both of these guides early in the process. The slides were informed by the learner persona that we had developed and group agreement on presenting an informal resource which would incorporate humour. This proved to be a particularly worthwhile exercise as the slides provided something tangible and representative for testing and feedback and many were retained in storyboard and imported into Articulate for the final resource. An example of these slides for the referencing guide is available in the Slideshare below.
Storyboards
As a resource for a group project developing an e-learning resource, a storyboard is invaluable. It provides a visual representation of the final resource and also enough information and direction to ensure that another developer can carry forward the work. As per the sample storyboard slide below, we included a visual cue, navigation information, media information and space for additional notes to guide the development of an Articulate Storyline resource.
Final Resource
The assignment writing and referencing guide was developed using Articulate Storyline 2 software and included a quiz. It was decided to refer to the different sections in each guide as a level and require the learner to complete sequentially. This format selection was justified for its similarity to video gaming structures which was deemed appropriate for our target learner persona (17-year old boy). A website landing page allows the learner to access the Articulate resource by clicking on a link (see screenshot below).
Clicking on this link brings the learner to the Articulate Storyline resource where they have a choice of guides for assignment writing and referencing and a quiz to complete. The screenshot below is taken from the Articulate resource guide to referencing.
Technology Discovery
I was introduced to the following technologies/e-learning tools on this module:
Basecamp is an online project management tool. This was very useful for accommodating asynchronous communication, file sharing and keeping track of project milestones.
Articulate Storyline 2 is a powerful e-learning tool which can be used to create web-based interactive presentations which can combine visuals and audio. The software is relatively easy to use with a facility to import PowerPoint slides. It is possible to create quizzes and interactive features such as buttons, triggers and data-entry fields.
Slideshare is a web based slide hosting service. It is free to register and you can upload slides in PowerPoint, PDF, Keynote and OpenDocument file formats.
References
ADDIE Model. (2015). Retrieved January 31st from: http://www.learning-theories.com/addie-model.html
Allen, M. (2012). Leaving ADDIE for SAM. ASTD Press.
ASSURE. (2015). Retrieved January 31st from: http://www.instructionaldesign.org/models/assure.html
Heinich, R., Molenda, M., Russell, J. D., & Smaldino, S. E. (1999). Instructional media and technologies for learning. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Allen, M. (2012). Leaving ADDIE for SAM. ASTD Press.
ASSURE. (2015). Retrieved January 31st from: http://www.instructionaldesign.org/models/assure.html
Heinich, R., Molenda, M., Russell, J. D., & Smaldino, S. E. (1999). Instructional media and technologies for learning. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.