What is Instructional Design?
Instructional design is the development and creation of learning experiences, materials, and resources, that result in the acquisition and application of skills and knowledge.
What is an Instructional Designer?
An instructional designer applies design systems thinking and methodologies rooted in instructional theories and models such as ADDIE to design, development, implement and evaluate solutions that support the acquisition and application of skills and knowledge. Solutions can include, instructional materials, job aids, presentations, activities, technical integrations or other educational content that supports a learner through a specified learning journey.
How Instructional Design Works at CCS
The Ed Tech team provides one-on-one course development through a three month, three-phase instructional design approach in collaboration with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs). Course development using this approach is generally reserved for fully online courses and programs in collaboration with Department Chairs and Academic Affairs.
The three-phase instructional design approach is as follows:
Discovery Phase
The Discovery Phase consists of 3-4 one-hour sessions with the instructional designer and SME. The goal of this phase is to discover the SME’s teaching style, how to engage students in the course subject, to set goals, and show examples of technologies and integrations that support Regular and Substantive Interaction.
Blueprint Phase
The Blueprint Phase can take several weeks to complete. Together, SMEs and instructional designers review the course learning outcomes, establish projects and other assessments through backward design, and develop a full course outline complete with weekly learning outcomes and full module build outs.
Course Building Phase
The Course Building Phase takes several weeks to complete as SMEs will work to create their course content with the guidance and recommendations from instructional designers. Instructional designers will take the content, check for accessibility, and complete the physical build out of the Canvas course to have the look, feel, and voice of the SME.
Why Use This Approach?
Courses developed through the three-phase instructional design approach are thoughtfully created with accessibility, scaffolding, and sequencing in mind. Cognitive load and time on task are also closely observed during the development process. Courses created through this approach are designed for alignment with the assessments and course learning outcomes, removing extraneous content and providing a better, streamlined learning environment and student experience overall.