Have you ever attended good training programs where you remember the information long after you’ve completed the course? You can thank the instructional designer for that.
From start to finish, instructional designers play a key role in creating immersive learning experiences. In this blog post, we’ll talk about the concept of instructional design, instructional design theories, and the steps involved in creating and designing effective courses.
What is instructional design?
Instructional design (ID) is the process of developing training materials and courses that create an immersive learning experience. Working behind the scenes, instructional designers draw practices from various fields to master the art and science of ID and build holistic courses for businesses. They rely on instructional design models to craft training that reaches all types of learners effectively.
What are the different models in instructional design?
While the majority of ID models and theories are effective and used across the world, some of the more common and popular models are discussed below.
The ADDIE model
One of the most common models of instructional design is the ADDIE model. It covers all phases of instructional design and gives you a streamlined approach to building e-learning courses. The five phases of the ADDIE model are:
- Analysis: This stage involves figuring out the training goals, the target audience, and the kind of training you’ll provide.
- Design: The designer prepares the basic design and lays out the structure of the course based on the results of your analysis.
- Development: This is the phase where the course is actually created. Keep different kinds of learners in mind to create accessible training programs for all.
- Implementation: During the implementation phase, the course is actually delivered to the learners.
- Evaluation: This phase involves evaluating the course performance and gathering feedback to use for future training programs.
This purpose of this model is to follow a specific order that’s not necessarily applicable to the modern e-learning world. While all of the phases of the ADDIE model are still relevant, they can happen either simultaneously or in a random order to meet the needs of digital course instructors.
Gagne’s Nine Events of Instruction
Gagne’s Nine Events of Instruction is based on the behaviorist approach. By listing the nine main events for designing courses, this model acts as a blueprint for instructional designers, especially for those who are newer to the field.
The nine events are:
- Gain attention.
- State objectives.
- Stimulate recall.
- Present content.
- Provide guidance.
- Elicit performance.
- Provide feedback.
- Assess performance.
- Enhance transfer and retention.
From capturing the learner’s attention to ensuring that the learning is transferable to the real world, Gagne’s model captures all phases of instructional design. It helps designers get an idea of the process before they start their job.