The Instructional Design Process: A Quick Guide

A Brief History of Instructional Design

Before diving into the instructional design process, let’s understand how instructional design came up.

Instructional design’s advent is usually attributed to the US during World War II. The war created the need for the swift training of military personnel and civilians. As a result, subject matter experts collaborated with researchers to rapidly develop training materials for different learner groups.

This marked the first time in Western history when systematic learning design was implemented on such a large scale within stringent time constraints.

After the end of WWII, instructional design’s use shifted to public schools and other educational institutions. During this time, educational psychologists also became interested in the field and lay down the groundwork for a theoretical basis to instructional design.

Research and development in instructional design has continued into the 21st century ever since and the discipline has matured considerably. Today, instructional design’s use has expanded to include corporate training programs.

One of the most impactful developments during the early decades of instructional design was the ADDIE model (1975), which is a framework for structuring the instructional design process that is still widely used to date.

The ADDIE Model: A Tried and Tested Instructional Design Process

While many instructional design theories and frameworks exist today, the ADDIE model remains one of the most straightforward and robust methodologies out there. It talks of 5 stages in creating a learning intervention, all of which involve the role of instructional designers in some capacity.

Stage 1 – Analysis (A)

The first stage of the ADDIE model is analysis, where the problem is analyzed and defined. The goal of this stage is to identify whether the problem is arising from a learning-related cause or another cause (such as environment, equipment, etc.)

Once it is established that a learning intervention is the right course of actions, other aspects are analyzed such as learner group, learners’ current experience and expertise, the subject matter, existing resources, delivery options, and the expected outcome.

The instructional design process typically begins here. The learning objectives are established in the analysis stage to guide the subsequent stages.

Stage 2 – Design (D)

The design phase is where the bulk of the instructional design process takes place in the ADDIE model. The instructional designers collaborate with SMEs to figure out the structure of the course based on the learning objectives.

This process ideally begins with an instructional design document (IDD), which lists the objectives, learning materials and techniques, visual design, and the overall learning strategy being adopted for a project.

In the design stage, instructional designers put together the curriculum, develop a final draft of the content, design assessments and activities, and develop the storyboard.

Scripts, facilitator guides, and other trainer and learner aids are also curated in this stage.

Stage 3 – Development (D)

Once the design has been settled upon, the learning intervention goes into development. In the case of rapid eLearning courses, this means development using a rapid authoring tool. Instructional designers can do this, but typically in-house developers are tasked with this.

Instructional designers do however develop slide decks, manuals, graphics, and other multimedia resources if it falls within the project’s scope.

Sign-offs are also attained in this stage. In the instructional design process, the learning intervention needs to signed-off on before delivering it. Stakeholders and instructional designers review the finished product for quality, accuracy, and functionality.

The majority of the instructional design process ends here.

Stage 4 – Implementation (I)

As the name suggests, the learning intervention is delivered and rolled out to learners in this stage. Trainers, IT staff, and management are the key players in this stage.

Stage 5 – Evaluation (E)

The evaluation stage looks at the outcomes of the learning intervention, as well as its reception. The ROI, KPIs, and change in knowledge and skill levels are measured to determine how effective the program was and where improvements can be made.

Instructional designers get involved in the evaluation phase once again if it is decided that the program will be adjusted based on the new information. The instructional design process begins all over again.

The Instructional Design Process in Other Frameworks and Models

The ADDIE model was initially linear, but has since shifted to a fluid and iterative approach, where interventions are refined by following the same 5 stages until a satisfactory outcome. Other instructional design models have similar checkpoints. No matter the approach being followed, the instructional design process remains more or less the same, where:

• The needs are first analyzed
• The overall structure of the learning intervention is planned out
• Visual design, learning materials and assets, and storyboards are created
• The final product is developed and polished
• A final sign-off is acquired from stakeholders and the instructional designers before going live

Key Roles of Instructional Designers in the Instructional Design Process

Good instructional design guarantees the success of learning interventions and ensures that training produces meaningful ROI and actionable outcomes.

Let us look at the key roles of instructional designers in the instructional design process.

Training Needs Analysis

Instructional designers and their expertise are crucial in identifying the learners’ needs, learning gaps, and the possible avenues of training that might benefit them. The needs analysis kicks off the instructional design process, and without it effective interventions cannot be made.

Curriculum Design

Instructional designers work collaboratively with trainers and SMEs to analyze the training material and organize it meaningfully to create thorough curriculums that address the underlying needs.

Content and Visual Design

Instructional designers also curate, structure and design the content, multimedia assets, and the visual layout such as skins, templates, and themes, for courses. These elements are designed intentionally to effectively communicate information while also being aesthetically appealing. A mixture of psychology, design theory, and communication theory is used to achieve this balance.

Project Management

Lastly, instructional designers also manage projects, depending on their experience and seniority. They coordinate with other involved parties such as SMEs, developers, strategic partners, stakeholders, etc. They ensure timelines are adhered to, take part in quality assessment, and are there to troubleshoot even after the delivery of projects.

Conclusion

The instructional design process covers different stages of a learning intervention. The steps involved ensure that the intervention targets the right needs and produces meaningful change in learners. An instructional designer’s role in the instructional design process covers many different tasks, from planning to curating and creating.

Infographic

Knowledge Check!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the steps of the instructional design process?

The instructional design process typically includes the following steps:

• The needs are first analyzed
• The overall structure of the learning intervention is planned out
• Visual design, learning materials and assets, and storyboards are created
• The final product is developed and polished
• A final sign-off is acquired from stakeholders and the instructional designers before going live

What are the five phases of the instructional design process?

The ADDIE model is one of the most widely used instructional design models. It covers most of the steps that are typically followed in an instructional process. They are:

• Analyze
• Design
• Develop
• Implement
• Evaluate

What is the role of instructional designers in the instructional design process?

Instructional designers play a multifaceted role in the instructional design process. Their tasks include:

• Training needs analysis
• Curriculum design
• Content and visual design
• Project management