When I decided to go back to school to pursue my Educational Specialist degree in Instructional Technology, people looked at me with a confused look on their face. I heard from a lot of people, “what kind of degree is that?” I started to explain to them my version of what the degree entailed. In the text, Trends and Issues in Instructional Design and Technology (2002) there are several definitions that better explain what instructional technology includes. “Early definitions of the field focused on instructional media - the physical means via which instruction is presented to learners” (Reiser & Dempsey, 2018, p.1). Technology in education has changed quite a bit over the past 100 years. This video briefly describes the changes of technology in education.
Instructional Technology has developed into
“the analysis of learning and performance problems, and the design, development, implementation, evaluation, and management of instructional and non-instructional processes and resources intended to improve learning and performance in a variety of settings, particularly education institutions and the workplace. Professional in the field instructional design and technology often use systematic instructional design procedures and employ instructional media to accomplish their goals” (Reiser & Dempsey, 2018, p. 5).
As I began learning more about this field, I needed more information regarding one component of the definition, using instructional design procedures. Instructional design can be described as “a system of procedures for developing education and training materials in a consistent and reliable fashion” (Reiser & Dempsey, 2018, p. 23). One might think designing training materials is a relatively simple task. To start, a trainer could simply poll their audience to see what training they needed. Next, the trainer would create content around the needs and then present the material. Sounds simple, right. As I have progressed through the program of Instructional Technology, I have learned there is much more in planning effective online learning.
Instructional design is a process that needs to be followed carefully. Many models have been created to offer guidance in the planning. Two of the most popular processes include ADDIE and SAM. ADDIE was created by the military to accelerate production of training materials (Reiser & Dempsey, 2018, p. 31). Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation are the components of the ADDIE process. Each phase must be complete before moving to the next. Much documentation needs to be kept in order for the process to be effective. As you can imagine, this process tends to be slow and loses the learner in the meantime.
On the other hand, SAM (successive approximation model) was designed to review, evaluate, and correct planning. The ultimate goal using SAM is to produce the best instruction while keeping time and money at the front of the planning. To do this, SAM thinks about the outcome before planning occurs. This tends to make the planning process easier. With using the SAM model, planning can flow among all components and be adjusted as needed. The flow is easier to follow and overall provides better outcomes than ADDIE.
Instructional design is more complicated that I originally thought. As I continue with the second half of the program, I am looking forward to learning more about how to create learning opportunities that will benefit adult learners while using different Instructional Design models.
Reference:
History of Instructional Technology [Video file]. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5_v9Aqb9XA
Reiser, R., & Dempsey, J. (2018). Trends and Issues in Instructional Design and Technology.
I thought very similar to you before beginning the text for this class. In designing a lesson or training, I've determined need by either survey, collaboration, and/or standards review. I then created my lesson and taught it. While I have blindly added many elements that take place when cognitively going through the instructional design process, I now see the importance of going through the formal process that involves constant evaluation. While a formal process can be daunting, I am comforted by Reisner & Dempsye's (2018) words, " It is practical in its recognition that no program will achieve perfection and that compromises are always necessary to meet ever-present constraints." (p.50).
ReplyDeleteReiser, R. A., & Dempsey, J. V. (2018). Trends and issues in instructional design and technology. New York: Pearson Education.
I was not very good with instructional design when I was in the classroom, but I sort of followed this model live instead of in preparation. I guess it is my science background and the scientific method which I feel relates directly to the SAM model. It also comes full circle and allows you to make a new hypothesis if the first does not work. As the text states "no design is perfect and never will be; improvement is always possible," (Dempsey & Reiser, 2017). You have to continuously plan, build, and review.
ReplyDeleteDempsey, J. and Reiser, R. (2017) Trends and Issues in Instructional Design and Technology. Pearson, New York, NY.