Assignment 5 -- Systems Approach Model for Designing Instruction

The theory "Systems Approach Model for Designing Instruction" by Walter Dick and Lou Carey explains the Dick and Carey model for instructional design. This model breaks down the instructional material in smaller components, and instruction is targeted to the skills and knowledge that needs to be taught.

Elements of the Dick and Carey model include:

• Determining instructional goal
• Analyzing the instructional goal
• Analyzing learners and contexts
• Writing performance objectives
• Developing assessment instruments
• Developing instructional strategy
• Developing and selecting instruction
• Designing and conducting formative evaluation
• Revising instruction
• Summative evaluation

This model is "based on the idea that there is a predictable and reliable link between a stimulus and the response that it produces in a learner."

This model seems like it will be easy to follow -- but we will certainly find out as we proceed through our instructional design project!!!

Why ID? Benefits of Instructional Design Models and A Brief History of ID

These two articles were very interesting to me. I had no idea that the instructional design models came about during World World 2 when the nation had to be trained quickly and troops deployed quickly. The ID models that were developed were instrumental in effectively training a large number of troops. Another national crisis that brought about the next "evolution" of instructional technology that focused on the design of the entire educational curriculum was a political war in 1957 when the Soviet Union launched the Sputnik satellite that began the "space race." At this point in time, America was forced to reevaluate the educational system.

Instructional design models can help with internal communication, can speed up a course planning process, can be used to evaluate existing instruction, and can be used as a tool for general planning. I liked the example of using an ID model for planning your next vacation -- I just might give this a try!!!

As more and more classes become non-traditional, instructional designers have to anticipate the needs of learners and design instruction that builds in resources, activities, and feedback. An appropriate delivery mode must also be chosen. With the expansion of the Internet and hypermedia, new ways of approaching learning and instruction are being discovered every day!

Methodologies and Theories of Elearning

This article had lots of information regarding the different methodologies and theories of elearning. I believe that instructors who plan on teaching an online course need to go through pedagogical training in order to be an effective online teacher. Motivation is a huge factor in online teaching. Teachers' roles have changed to more of a facilitator with online courses. One of the roles of a facilitator is to increase student motivation and "develop the skills or strategies" of the students. The online learning environment must be structured so that students are able to take ownership of their own learning.

Another theory that I believe is important is the adult learning theory. Most distance education students are adults between the ages of 25 and 50. It is necessary for the online instructor to understand how adults learn.

Instructional Design

In this article, I liked the definition of instructional design; "bridging concepts of technology and education." One of the most important roles of an instructional designer is to analyze learning needs and goals and then develop a delivery system to meet those needs and goals.

Instructional design gives structure to students with the process of working through course material. There have been many studies done on online learning vs. traditional classroom learning and the success/failure rates. The growth and success of elearning is very closely linked to the design of quality learning.