Instructional Design Principles Result In Solid Content Delivery & Streamlined Learning Environments

Posted April 14, 2017

If I were attempting to master the art of writing the longest, least marketable title, I might have just won. Still, the topic is worth discussing. Why should anyone care that the field of Instructional Technology exists?

Let me ask you a question. Have you ever taught a confused student who still didn’t understand a concept after two hours of detailed explanations, strategic modeling, and award-winning graphic organizers?

After a mere twenty minutes of searching I stumbled upon an answer to both dilemmas. Instructional design and technology exist…

…to summon the full weight of evidence supporting the efficacy of certain instructional approaches.

Thank you Dr. Maryellen Weimer for crafting a compelling answer…without knowing it. In one of her most recent blog posts, Dr. Weimer laments the need for scholarship linking sound pedagogical design principles across disciplines. Although Dr. Weimer feels this is a problem, the helpful academics leaving comments below the article disagree. Dr. Jessica Cannon’s reply is my favorite (see below).

Just want to point out that Instructional Design, a field that focuses on developing instruction and training based on sound design principles independent of content and delivery, has been around since at least the 1970s and has a literature of its own that would speak to the needs you identify. Additionally, Quality Matters, an organization that aims to provide similar standards for online course design (also independent of content or discipline), has been around since 2003.

So, why should we care about a field that uses proven methods to deliver content across disciplines? I may have just answered my own question, but to be sure I recommend that you spend eight minutes reading one of the best blog posts that I’ve found on the topic.

You should check out Josh Lund’s “Instructional Design Models” post. The post is excellent. Lund’s text describes the value of the super hero-like tools that I and other technologists use to help students process content in classroom and digital environments. Eight minutes with Lund may lead to a few extra ideas for your confused, graphic organizer-resistant student.

Happy reading!