Week Ten Instructional Materials Design

Note where we are in the Dick and Carey instructional design process - more than halfway through the model. This week, we will begin developing a rapid prototype of our instructional materials. These are the first portion of Assignment Four, Instructional Materials and Evaluation.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe factors that may cause revisions in media selections and delivery systems for given instruction.
2. Name and describe the components of an instructional package.
3. List four categories of criteria for judging the appropriateness of existing instructional materials.
4. Describe the designer's role in materials development and instructional delivery.
5. Name appropriate rough draft materials for various media.
6. Given an instructional strategy, describe the procedures for developing instructional materials.
7. Develop instructional materials based on a given instructional strategy.

Overview

The role of an instructional designer in the development of the instructional materials varies depending on how involved the designer is in actually delivering the instruction, the size of the project, and the resources available. At one end of the spectrum, the designer may develop the materials and deliver the instruction (a one-person show, so to speak). At the other end of the spectrum, the designer may belong to a team that includes a manager, SMEs, other designers, and media specialists, and have no contact with the learners. Your textbook discusses the various responsibilities of the designer in developing instructional materials across this spectrum. A good summary is presented in Table 9.2 on p. 248.

I suggest you follow the steps on p. 254-255 to create a rough draft of your instructional materials. You will then use these materials in the formative evaluation phase.

I suggest you create instructional materials as if you are the "one-person show"; namely the instructional designer, the materials developer, and the eventual teacher of the material. Consider using the rapid prototyping procedure described by Dick and Carey on p. 252-253; do not create elaborate materials at this stage. In fact, I would prefer you use the illustrated text format for your first attempt at creating materials. Elaborate instructional materials are not required! This is not a media course. Complete only a rough draft. Remember, this phase, like so many phases of the ID process, is an iterative one. You may go through several stages of formative evaluation, and several iterations of your instructional materials, before you are ready for final production.

Please note that you will not be required to produce a final version of your instructional materials for this course (just a plan for doing so). However, you may choose to continue into the final production phase for your own personal or professional reasons.

Although you are working on Assignment 3 now, we are moving slowly into Assignment 4, Instructional Evaluation, which covers development of your instructional plan and a formative evaluation. This is the last assignment.

Required Reading

1. Chapter 9
2. Rapid Prototyping

Assignment

1. Begin developing a rapid-prototype of your instructional materials. Just be ready to discuss this overall idea of drafting your materials in class on Monday.

Online Class Discussion

Monday, 8-9:30 p.m., Eastern time via Webex.

• 8:00-8:10 Introductory discussion
• 8:10-8:45 Review of instructional strategies (from week 9) and instructional and media delivery systems.
• 8:45-:920 Discussion of your strategies and how you plan to draft your instructional plan. Be prepared to present 2 or 3 strategies to the class and an overview of what your materials might look like.
• 9:20-9:30 Preview of next week / Overview of assignments 3 and 4.

Please email me with any questions.