Instructional design is the process of creating educational experiences that are efficient, effective, and engaging. There are several different models of instructional design, and each one is best suited to different types of educational tasks. Here are some of the most common instructional design models:
- ADDIE Model: ADDIE stands for Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation. This model is highly structured and linear, making it suitable for large-scale, formal learning projects like designing a new curriculum or creating a series of online courses.
- SAM (Successive Approximation Model): This model is more iterative and flexible than ADDIE, making it a good fit for projects where requirements are expected to change during development. It includes three phases: preparation, iterative design, and iterative development.
- Dick and Carey Model: This model is similar to ADDIE but places more emphasis on the relationships between different parts of the instructional design process. It's useful for projects where the learning objectives, instructional methods, and assessment methods need to be closely aligned.
- Kemp’s Instructional Design Model: This model is more flexible and non-linear than some other models. It includes elements such as instructional problems, objectives, assessment methods, content, learning activities, and resources. It's good for projects where different components need to be developed in parallel.
- Merrill’s Principles of Instruction: Merrill's model focuses on problem-centered instruction and includes principles such as task-centered principle, activation principle, demonstration principle, application principle, and integration principle. It is best used when the instruction is focused on solving real-world problems.
- Gagne’s Nine Events of Instruction: This model outlines nine specific steps that are intended to promote effective learning, including gaining attention, informing learners of the objectives, stimulating recall of prior learning, presenting the content, providing learning guidance, eliciting performance, providing feedback, assessing performance, and enhancing retention and transfer. It's useful for designing individual lessons or modules within a larger curriculum.
- Bloom’s Taxonomy: Although it's not an instructional design model per se, Bloom's taxonomy is often used in conjunction with other models to design effective learning experiences. It includes six levels of cognitive learning: knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. It helps in crafting learning objectives and assessments that match the level of cognitive complexity required by the learning task.
Which model to choose depends on the specific learning task, the needs and characteristics of the learners, the resources available, and the constraints of the project. It's also possible to blend elements from different models to create a hybrid approach that best meets the needs of a particular situation.
