Looking up the phrase instructional design will pull up a very scary-sounding definition. It will usually say something like, “instructional design is the systematic process of creating learning experiences to help people acquire knowledge, skills, or attitudes.”
Here’s a simpler way to explain it: instructional design is the process of creating educational and training materials or experiences to make learning efficient, effective and engaging.
So, what how do instructional design principles guide that process?
Learner-centered design
Before creating any learning content or materials, start by understanding who will be doing the learning. Consider the audience by asking these questions:
- What does the learner already know?
- How do they learn best?
- What do they need to know?
Imagine you’re creating a leadership development course for your employees. When you consider what they already know about your company, how they learn, and what they need to know, it’ll be much easier to tailor your content to them.
Create clear learning objectives
Make sure the purpose of your course is always clear. This is easier when you start by documenting the problem and the solution you’re hoping to achieve. It helps to have these written down so you can remember why you’re creating learning content in the first place.
Don’t forget to keep your learning objectives measurable and specific. A vague idea like “understand our company values” isn’t very helpful when you sit down to design your course. “Being able to name the company values and give examples of what they each look like in action” would be a better goal.
Developing learning materials with accessible multimedia
The fun part of instructional design is, well, designing your learning materials and course! Don’t bore your learners to death with pages of words or monotonous recordings. Have fun by utilizing a mix of written words, videos, visuals, storytelling, gamification and interactive tasks to keep your course engaging and interesting.
This can also include guidance like hints, checklists, real-world examples, and peer group activities. Breaking your content into manageable pieces and building off their previous knowledge—even things they learned a few minutes earlier—helps with understanding and information retention.
Don’t go overboard
Make sure your multimedia doesn’t distract from your learning objectives or take your audience off course. Keep them motivated and engaged by changing up your mediums, but don’t interfere with their learning.
Stay consistent, evaluate, and iterate
Review your audience feedback and consistently check how folks are progressing through your courses. Are your designs clear, easy to navigate, and giving your learners a consistent experience? If not, it’s time to iterate. Revisit your learning objectives and check that your actual learning materials are in line with those goals.
Why we love learning management systems
Using a learning management system (LMS) to build, launch, and iterate your courses will help organize, administer, and track every learners’ progress. When it comes time to iterate, the right LMS will make your instructional design updates a breeze.
Support with instructional design principles
Instructional design is a mix of art and science. Hiring an instructional design consultant like Online Training Concepts (OTC) can make this process much smoother. Businesses like OTC understand the role of technology, different instructional models, and how to make the most of your ideas. Learn more about what it’s like to work with us by visiting our portfolio.
Ready to get started on your own instructional design? Reach out today.