How can you use instructional design models to improve learning retention?

1 ADDIE Model

The ADDIE model is a widely used instructional design model that stands for Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation. It is a linear and systematic process that guides you through each phase of the instructional design process and can help you improve learning retention. By conducting a thorough analysis of the learners' needs, goals, preferences, and existing knowledge, you can design learning objectives, outcomes, assessments, and strategies that align with the learners' needs and goals. Additionally, developing engaging and interactive learning content and materials that support the learning objectives and outcomes is key. Implementing the learning content and materials in an effective and efficient way that suits the learners' context and environment is also important. Finally, evaluating the learning content and materials, the learners' performance, and the impact of the learning on the learners' behavior and results will help you gauge success.

2 SAM Model

The SAM model is an iterative and agile instructional design process. It stands for Successive Approximation Model and can help improve learning retention. The model begins by creating a prototype or draft of the learning content and materials, based on the learners' needs and goals. Afterward, it involves reviewing and testing the prototype with the learners and stakeholders to get feedback and suggestions. Then, you can revise and refine the prototype based on the feedback until you reach a satisfactory level of quality. Finally, you can implement and evaluate the final product to measure its impact on the learners' performance.

3 Gagne's Nine Events of Instruction

Gagne's nine events of instruction are not a model, but rather a set of principles to help structure learning content and materials. These principles are founded on the cognitive theory of learning, recognizing that different types of learning require different types of instruction. By following Gagne's nine events of instruction, learning retention can be improved by gaining the learners' attention and arousing their curiosity and interest, informing them of objectives and outcomes, stimulating their prior knowledge, presenting content in a clear and organized way, providing guidance and support, eliciting performance and practice, offering feedback and reinforcement, assessing performance and learning, and enhancing retention and transfer.

4 Bloom's Taxonomy

Bloom's taxonomy is a set of principles or guidelines that help to classify and organize learning objectives and outcomes. It is based on the cognitive domain of learning, and its purpose is to help learners achieve different levels of complexity and depth. To improve learning retention, Bloom's taxonomy encourages creating learning objectives and outcomes that match the learner's level of knowledge. Additionally, it suggests using verbs and actions that reflect the different levels of learning, such as remembering, understanding, applying, analyzing, evaluating, and creating. The taxonomy also suggests designing learning content and materials that support the different levels of learning by challenging learners to move from lower to higher levels. Finally, it encourages developing assessments and activities that measure and reinforce the different levels of learning, requiring the learners to use various cognitive processes and strategies.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?