- Learning Design and Technology
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Why Learning Models That Date Back to WWII Are So Important Today
When it comes to instructional design models and theories, ADDIE is the most widely recognized name among professional learning designers (more on “her” in a moment). But there are also many other notable names and theories that are highly relevant to current and aspiring instructional designers, as well as anyone who is curious about learning.
From Bloom’s Taxonomy and Gagné’s Nine Events of Instruction to Merrill’s Principles of Instruction and countless others, all of the theories and models related to instructional design have at least one thing in common: They are part of the evolution of humankind’s ongoing exploration into the science of how people learn.
History of Instructional Design Models
The field of instructional design officially dates back to World War II, when America’s war effort demanded a highly effective and methodological approach to training vast numbers of people. In the years following the war, new efforts to identify the underpinnings of how people learn and use such insights to create effective learning frameworks emerged (see more below).
Today, instructional design is at the heart of a vitally important trend in education and training. Formalized instructional design processes are being utilized across higher education, the corporate world and government to help people learn essential information and skills quickly, effectively and at scale. These processes are increasingly found in technology-enhanced virtual environments, in addition to more traditional face-to-face instruction.
The 9 Reasons You Should Consider a Career in Instructional Design (Plus Salary Info) — Get The Guide >>
Why Use an Instructional Design Model
The instructional design process, regardless of which model is used, helps ensure that instruction is created efficiently and that it is grounded in principles that connect to our best understanding of how people learn.
Theories about how people learn, and instructional design models based on those theories, help instructional designers develop materials that inspire effective and engaging learning experiences. These learning experiences enable people to acquire and retain new knowledge and skills.
A Closer Look at Several Influential Instructional Design Models & Theories
There are dozens of instructional design-related theories and models that have come to the forefront in the post-war years. Some of the most notable include:
Psychologist B.F. Skinner’s influential 1954 article “The Science of Learning and the Art of Teaching” and his exploration of what he called “operant conditioning.”
Bloom’s Taxonomy — According to EdGlossary, Bloom’s Taxonomy is a “system used to define and distinguish different levels of human cognition, i.e., thinking, learning and understanding” published in 1956 by a University of Chicago team headed by Benjamin Bloom. Later revised by scholars led by two Bloom colleagues to be as useful as possible to educators, it posited a cognitive model that includes six different classification levels: Knowledge, Comprehension, Application, Analysis, Synthesis and Evaluation.
Gagné’s Nine Events of Instructions — published in the 1965 book “Conditions of Learning” by Robert Gagné, an educational psychologist who was a key figure in WWII training efforts. Gagné identified five major categories of learning — verbal information, intellectual skills, cognitive strategies, motor skills and attitudes. He also famously theorized that there are nine instructional “events” that are instrumental in the learning process (see video):
- Gaining the attention of the learners
- Informing them of the objectives
- Stimulating recall of prior learning
- Presenting the stimulus (learning materials or content)
- Providing learning guidance
- Eliciting performance (through practice)
- Providing feedback
- Assessing performance
- Enhancing retention and transfer (of knowledge and skills)
Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction — developed by education researcher David Merrill, whose principles start with the idea that “truly effective learning experiences are rooted in problem-solving” and continue with fundamental steps to accomplish this:
- Demonstration
- Application
- Integration
- Activation
Speaking about his methodology in a video, Merrill asserts that educators must “show vs. tell,” offer meaningful opportunities for “having the student actually do what they’re learning” (rather than “ask what they’ve learned,” as is the case with many tests) and “[do] this in the context of a real-world problem.”
Which brings us to ADDIE, whose familiar acronym stands for the five key stages of the instructional design process: Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation and Evaluation.
Developed by Florida State University’s Center for Educational Technology in the 1970s, ADDIE is as vital as ever to the field of instructional design today. Many other subsequent approaches to learning design build upon or adapt core elements of the ADDIE model. (For a more in-depth review of ADDIE’s core principles, see InstructionalDesign.org.)
Despite recent trends toward more agile, rapid prototyping of instructional materials, ADDIE is described as “the best way to learn how to create an online course”; with one leading instructional design blogger asserting that, “Modern learning and development professionals should exhibit mastery in each of [its] 5 phases.”
ADDIE is arguably the most important instructional design model because it provides a universal framework for ID work. All instructional design models follow some variation of a three-step process that includes:
- Analyzing a situation to determine the instructional need
- Producing and implementing an instructional solution, and
- Evaluating the outcomes of implementing the design
SAM Model – where ADDIE is slow and steady, SAM (short for Successive Approximation Model) is “fast and furious.” It is a leading example of the industry trend toward iterative design and delivery frameworks now being used to meet the need for speed in the fast-growing world of instructional design. Its three key phases include:
- Preparation
- Iterative design
- Iterative development
According to eLearning Industry, “SAM serves as a rapid design and development model that uses shortened agile steps to create holistic and flexible projects,” enabling designers to “test their course early and often and be agile to revisions based on user feedback.”
Expanded List of Instructional Design Models
Why are there so many instructional design models, frameworks and theories? Well, perhaps it is because there is no “one right answer” to the complex and multifaceted question of how different learners most effectively acquire and retain different types of knowledge and skills.
Here is a quick rundown of some additional instructional design-related models and theories, with links to resources for further study:
- Dick and Carey Instructional Design Model [WorldOfWork.io]
- ASSURE (Analyze learners | State standards & objectives | Select strategies, technology, media & materials | Utilize technology, media & materials | Require learner participation | Evaluate & revise) [InstructionalDesign.org]
- Backward Design (Understanding by Design) [CultOfPedagogy.com]
- Kemp Design Model [InstructionalDesign.org]
- The Kirkpatrick Model [MindToools.com]
- Situated Learning Theory [IDToolbox.com]
- Anchored Instruction Model [InstructionalDesign.org]
- Cognitive Apprenticeship [IDToolbox.com]
- Social Learning Theory: Albert Bandura [GerardFriel.com]
- Andragogy: Malcolm Knowles [InstructionalDesign.org]
- Jean Piaget’s Theory & Stages of Cognitive Development [SimplyPsychology.org]
- Sociocultural Learning Theory: Lev Vygotsky [eLearningIndustry.com]
- Zone of Proximal Development and Scaffolding: Lev Vygotsky [SimplyPsychology.org]
The 9 Reasons You Should Consider a Career in Instructional Design (Plus Salary Info) — Get The Guide >>
How to Select an Instructional Design Model
There are three important points to make here.
First: In the real world, choices about which instructional design models to use are very often driven by constraints such as time, budget and project scope. Though sometimes a more methodical, linear approach may be desired, pivoting toward a more agile, rapid, iterative process may be necessary.
Second: A comprehensive understanding of ADDIE — as an overall process and why each element is important — will ensure that an instructional designer is on the right track, since that fundamental knowledge will equip them to adapt to the demands of each project or situation.
Third: This is technically not a “how to select a model” piece of advice, but more of an essential concept to keep in mind no matter what model or theory you use to frame a project. The importance of bringing empathy to each instructional design or learning experience design project cannot be overstated — specifically, empathy for the group of learners for whom your instructional materials are intended. Empathy maps are a tool that many instructional designers use to develop human-centered insights that connect to a “put yourself in the learner’s shoes” kind of approach.
FAQs About Instructional Design Models
Q: What does ADDIE stand for?
A: ADDIE is an acronym that stands for the five key stages of the instructional design process: Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation and Evaluation. It is arguably the most important and influential instructional design model.
Q: How is SAM different from ADDIE in instructional design?
A: SAM (short for Successive Approximation Model) is a leading example of the industry trend toward more rapid, iterative design and delivery frameworks now being used to meet the need for speed in the fast-growing world of instructional design.
Q: Why are instructional design models important?
A: Following an instructional design model grounded in principles that connect to our best understanding of how people learn is essential to create effective and engaging learning experiences that enable people to acquire and retain new knowledge and skills.
Q: How old is the field of instructional design?
A: Instructional design traces its roots to World War II, when America’s war effort demanded a highly effective and methodological approach to training vast numbers of people. Now increasingly referred to as learning design or learning experience design, today it is a fast-growing field with new career opportunities in higher education, government and the business world.
Q: Is a master’s degree needed to become an instructional designer?
A: Not necessarily, but one recent survey indicates that some 87% of instructional designers have earned a master’s degree. Among the many benefits of earning your master’s in learning design from the University of San Diego: You will build practical skills that are widely sought after across nearly all industries, you will create an online portfolio you can use to showcase your skills to potential employers and you will build a professional network that supports lifelong learning in this fascinating and fast-growing field.
Dr. Lisa Evans
Academic Director
Why Learning Models That Date Back to WWII Are So Important Today When it comes to instructional design models and theories, ADDIE is the most widely recognized name among professional learning designers (more on “her” in a moment). But there are also many other notable names and theories that are…
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FAQs
18 Influential Instructional Design Models & Theories? ›
An instructional design model provides guidelines to organize appropriate pedagogical scenarios to achieve instructional goals. Instructional design can be defined as the practice of creating instructional experiences to help facilitate learning most effectively.
What is instructional design theories and models? ›An instructional design model provides guidelines to organize appropriate pedagogical scenarios to achieve instructional goals. Instructional design can be defined as the practice of creating instructional experiences to help facilitate learning most effectively.
What is the best theory to use in instructional design? ›A: ADDIE is an acronym that stands for the five key stages of the instructional design process: Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation and Evaluation. It is arguably the most important and influential instructional design model.
What are the theories of ISD? ›Learning theories describe what's going on when people learn, which influences the ways that a learning designer approaches the design phase of ISD. Three learning theories are especially important in the context of learning design: behaviorism, cognitivism, and constructivism.
What are the 5 instructional models? ›What are the 5Es? o The 5Es represent five stages of a sequence for teaching and learning: Engage, Explore, Explain, Extend (or Elaborate), and Evaluate.
What are examples of instructional design? ›A: Instructional design is “the process by which learning products and experiences are designed, developed, and delivered. These learning products include online courses, instructional manuals, video tutorials, learning simulations, etc.
What is an example of instructional design in education? ›A case study is a good instructional design example that can be used to develop and improve a learner's problem-solving skills. It makes use of open-ended situations or scenario-type cases with multiple solutions, and learners get to work either in groups or individually to solve these cases.
What is the 7 model of instruction? ›The 7E learning cycle model is a model that can guide students to actively acquire new knowledge with 7E (elicit, engage, explore, explain, elaborate, evaluate, and extend). Teaching materials using 7E learning cycle can help students understand the problems and phenomena they encounter in the environment.
What are the 4 instructional methods used for teaching and learning? ›Do you know what the four types of instructional methods are? The four types are information processing, behavioral, social interaction, and personal. Within each model, several strategies can be used.
What are the four major theories contributing to instructional design? ›Learning theories help instructional designers understand how people retain and recall information and stay motivated and engaged in learning. There are three main families of learning theories and an emerging fourth: behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism, and connectivism.
What are the three learning theories of instructional design? ›
Although there are multiple theories of learning, there are three principle foundations that influence most instructional design models today. These learning strategies include: behaviorist learning theory, cognitivist learning theory, and constructivist learning theory.
What is the most used learning style model? ›There are many different ways of categorizing learning styles, but Neil Fleming's VARK model is one of the most popular.
What is the critical theory of education? ›Critical theory in education is about questioning how our educational system can best offer education to all people. It offers opportunities and understanding of the different perspectives of disadvantaged members of society.
What are the two main theories of language teaching? ›There are four major theories about language acquisition: Behaviorism, Nativism, Constructivism and Social interactionism.
What is an example of a conflict theory in education? ›Conflict theorists contend that not only do the economics favor the white affluent, but so does school testing—particularly IQ testing, which schools can use to sort students. They argue that the tests, which claim to test intelligence, actually test cultural knowledge and therefore exhibit a cultural bias.
What are the 5 E's of constructivism? ›These phases include Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate.
What are the six major models of educational management? ›Models of Educational Leadership and Management
The present author has presented and classified theories of educational management for over 20 years (Bush 1986, 1995, 2003). This work categorises the main theories into six major models: formal, collegial, political, subjective, ambiguity and cultural (see Table 2.1).
5 Types Of Instructional Design Models.
What are the 7 types of instructional materials? ›| Textbooks, pamphlets, handouts, study guides, manuals | |
|---|---|
| Audio | Cassettes, microphone, podcast |
| Visual | Charts, real objects, photographs, transparencies |
| Audiovisual | Slides, tapes, films, filmstrips, television, video, multimedia |
| Electronic Interactive | Computers, graphing calculators, tablets |
Instructional models are related to theories about how we learn. Some examples include: behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism, and connectivism. Various learning theories fit within these general categories, i.e., adult learning theory, transformative learning, social interaction, motivation theory, etc.
What is the example of ADDIE model? ›
The purpose of ADDIE is to ensure a structured framework to every course each time they're created. For example, imagine having a quiz at the beginning of a lesson prior to reading the material, this is just one example that the ADDIE model seeks to avoid.
Do teachers use instructional design? ›Although teachers may play a role in designing instruction—especially at the level of lesson planning—they are not automatically qualified to be instructional designers. The responsibilities and expectations are different for each role.
What is instructional design in your own words? ›Simply put, instructional design is the creation of instructional materials. Though, this field goes beyond simply creating teaching materials, it carefully considers how students learn and what materials and methods will most effectively help individuals achieve their academic goals.
What are instructional design methods? ›An instructional design method refers to the approach a designer takes when developing a new system of instruction. Though the designer's approach may vary from case to case, many of the established methods of instructional design are similar in their fundamental nature.
What are the 5 principles of instruction? ›In his study of instructional design theories and models, educational researcher David Merrill identified and focused on these five principles: problem-centric, activation, demonstration, application, and integration.
What are the 5 components of instruction? ›Effective instructional programs and materials emphasize the five essential components of effective reading instruction: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
What are 2 characteristics of instructional design models? ›- is a student-centered process.
- is a goal-oriented process.
- is a creative process.
- focuses on meaningful experiences.
- assumes outcomes are measurable. reliable, and valid.
- is an empirical, iterative, and self-correcting process.
- typically is a team effort.
The acronym "ADDIE" stands for Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, and Evaluate. It is an Instructional Design model that has withstood the test of time and use. It is simply a "device" to help us think through a course's design.
What are the 4 preferred learning styles? ›There are 4 predominant learning styles: Visual, Auditory, Read/Write, and Kinaesthetic. While most of us may have some general idea about how we learn best, often it comes as a surprise when we discover what our predominant learning style is.
What are the best learning models? ›- Hands-on learning activities. Students often thrive when given the opportunity to create something on their own. ...
- Collaborative projects. With collaborative projects, students get the chance to work with one another toward a common goal. ...
- Experiential learning. ...
- Direct instruction.
What are the top 5 learning styles? ›
There are five established learning styles: Visual, auditory, written, kinesthetic and multimodal.
What is John Dewey's learning theory? ›John Dewey's philosophy of education emphasized that learning process can only actually be useful when children are provided with sufficient learning opportunities in order to connect their prior experience with the current knowledge.
What is pedagogy and critical theory? ›Critical pedagogy provides a theoretical framework to examine issues of power in the classroom, and to surface and challenge the biases and oppressive structures that can undermine learning and alienate students.
What is pedagogy in education? ›Pedagogy is the combination of teaching methods (what instructors do), learning activities (what instructors ask their students to do), and learning assessments (the assignments, projects, or tasks that measure student learning).
What are the 5 pedagogical approaches? ›The five major approaches are Constructivist, Collaborative, Integrative, Reflective and Inquiry Based Learning ( 2C-2I-1R ).
How many teaching theories are there? ›There are five primary educational learning theories: behaviorism, cognitive, constructivism, humanism, and connectivism.
What is Chomsky theory? ›Chomsky's theory is based on the idea that all languages hold similar structures and rules, also known as a universal grammar. This theory states that all languages have formal universals and principles in common, with specific options and limits for variation in grammar and features between languages.
What does the hidden curriculum in schools do? ›The hidden curriculum is what educators teach students without even realizing it, through their interactions, modeling, and school or classroom culture; it consist of unspoken values, beliefs, norms and culture.
What is symbolic Interactionism theory of education? ›The symbolic interactionist perspective focuses on social interaction in the classroom, on school playgrounds, and at other school-related venues. Social interaction contributes to gender-role socialization, and teachers' expectations may affect their students' performance.
How can a teacher apply conflict theory in a classroom? ›When applying the conflict theory to education, you can analyze the groups that exist within the setting you're applying it to. By identifying the various social groups, whether you recognize these groups by their socioeconomic status, race or gender, you can form theories about the conflict that exists among them.
What is an instructional design model? ›
Instructional design models organize and visualize learning theories and principles to guide instructional designers through a learning development process. Stated differently, an instructional design model can be considered a framework to develop learning materials.
What is the meaning of instructional design theory? ›Reigeluth (1999) used the term 'instructional-design theory', which is defined as a theory that "offers explicit guidance on how to between help people learn and develop. The kinds of learning and development may include cognitive, emotional, social, physical and spiritual."
What are the theories and models of learning and instruction? ›- Behaviorism learning theory.
- Cognitive learning theory.
- Constructivism learning theory.
- Humanism learning theory.
- Connectivism learning theory.
The goal of instructional design is to make learning as accessible as possible for the learner. The core of the instructional design process is the learning objective. This learning objective is the desired outcome for the learner.
Why is instructional design theory important? ›Good instructional design considers how students learn and what materials, methods, and technologies will most effectively change behavior. It considers how learning tools should be designed, developed, and delivered to learners, and is effective in crafting learning experiences.
What is the purpose of instructional design in education? ›The major goal of instructional design is to demonstrate planning, developing, evaluating, and managing the instructional process. At the end of this process, it can be seen the student learning performance in instructional activities based upon defined goals and objectives.
How do you apply learning theories in the classroom? ›- Map your content into instructional units (e.g., Weeks, Modules, Topics).
- Include measurable student learning objectives at the beginning of each instructional unit.
- Create consistent pages so that students become accustomed to where information is located. ...
- Work with an instructional designer.
Instructional design refers to the process used to create instructional material. It is used to identify gaps in knowledge, skills, and attitudes of students or employees, analyzing learning needs and developing learning material to close them.
What are the main theories and models of curriculum? ›- Subject-centered curriculum design. ...
- Learner-centered curriculum design. ...
- Problem-centered curriculum design. ...
- Curriculum design tips.
The ADDIE model outlines five steps to instructional design: analyze, design, develop, implement, and evaluate. Until the mid-1980's, ADDIE was generally seen as a linear model, meaning that the designer would not move from one step to another until the previous step was completed.