ADDIE

I was going to write a book but now I'm just going to blog it. I'll post my progress so far....
 
Everything has to start somewhere. Every object, every experience begins as an idea in

someone’s head, a passion that they can not resist fulfilling. This book is a narrative of my

passion for instructional systems design (ISD). I can’t help but write this book.

Instructional design isn’t a simple effort of creating a program in PowerPoint or

Word in an afternoon. It’s a talent and a skill that takes time to develop and with that

development, amazing things can happen.

 

Instructional designers want to know how people work and what inspires them to

learn. Instructional design combines science, art and psychology. It is science in that it’s a

constant experiment to see what works and what doesn’t by testing and evaluation. It is art

in that learning is seeking to appeal to senses and emotion in the same way that a song or

a painting does. By evoking emotion, learning retention occurs. It is psychology in that it

works with the human brain to achieve its purpose, which is to create change in knowledge,

behavior or skills. The learner should enjoy themselves and walk away different than when

they started the training.

 

What makes one want to learn? What keeps them involved? Instructional designers

investigate and instigate the learning experience. ‘Imagination is intelligence having fun’. –

Anonymous. Where another person’s eyes glaze over with ennui, an instructional designer

eyes light up and suddenly they’re having more fun working on a training project than

almost anything else. Their imagination is fired, their intellect is challenged and they’re off

to work/play with such creativity that was theretofore unsuspected.

 

This book was inspired by seeing the need for instructional design skills in the

corporate world. So many people want to create training that is effective, efficient and

engaging. These people include leaders, subject-matter experts or sometimes even

instructors. They want to entertain the class as well as educate the class but don’t know

how, other than to talk ‘at’ the learners or follow the “show, do” method to teach. There

are times for those methods but knowing when and why to use them (or even better, other

methods) is crucial to success. I am writing this book to unwrap instructional design for

those who are new to the field or those who been thrust into that position. If you are among

that audience, hopefully this book will open your eyes to ISD.

 
My goal is simplify the mystery of instructional design. To hold true to my instructional

design roots, I have to define my objectives as measurable, observable performances that

will accomplish that goal. After reading this book, you will be able to:

ADDIE: Unplugged (Draft Outline)

• Define instructional design
• Describe the history of instructional design
• Introduce and describe ADDIE
• Explain all the facets of ADDIE
• Use ADDIE in today’s real world