Instructional design is systematic approach for researching, designing and producing instructional materials that can be used in a variety of ways including in classrooms, online and corporate environments. To craft competent training requires a complex set of skills, education and experience such as knowledge of human behavior, experience with learning theory and the ability to assess students’ knowledge both pre- and post- instruction.
History and Origins
The skills required for instructional design have been around long before its formal origins, which was around the time of the WWII. At that time, assessments were used to measure military student aptitudes to determine what training they would be best suited for. Psychologists saw the effectiveness of this approach and the field gained recognition.
Design Models
Today there are over 20 design models used to design instruction. According to Instructional Design, the most common of these is the ADDIE Model, named for its five phases which are: Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation. These steps have proven to be effective tools for constructing effective instruction. Another popular model is Criterion Referenced Instruction, which is based on designing instruction with specific performance objectives.
Digital Instruction
With the explosive advance of technology and computers, more and more instruction is designed for formats that include the smart phone, tablets, laptops, desktop computers and large screens. Unlike classroom instruction, the work required to produce online training requires not only the ability to design an interface that works for all digital formats, but also instruction that is a completely contained unit. One technique to do this that is commonly used by designers is storyboarding where a set of illustrations presents every screen and concept. This allows a designer to view the instruction and make decisions about its soundness in a cost effective way.
Determining Usability
A major skill needed by instructional designers is usability testing. Usability testing gives the instruction a ‘dry-run’ with an audience that represents the actual learners who will eventually take it. Many methods are used to test instructional effectiveness including actual tests, interviews, surveys, and performing a specific task. The important distinction in looking at usability is that it is a test of the instruction, not of the learner.
Learner Assessment
Effective instruction means the learners know, perform or understand its objectives. Instructional designers generally assess learners both before and after the instruction. Assessing them before the instruction tells the designer how much the learner knows and how the instruction must fill the gap between their current skill levels and the objectives of the instruction. Post-instruction assessment measures if the learner met the performance objectives.
Jobs and Support
Jobs in the field of instructional design are plentiful and range widely in title and responsibilities. Some examples include Instructional Design Developers, Change Management/Instructional Design and Corporate Training Learning Specialist. Many jobs fall under Human Resources departments while others are part of separate training departments. The Association for Talent Development (ATD), formerly known as the Association for Training and Development, provides support, certification opportunities and networking for members.
Related Resource: Child Development
The field of instructional design offers challenging opportunities for changing and enhancing learners’ knowledge and skills. Whether it be e-learning or a high school math class, the bottom line in this field is to make learners successful.
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