Instructional Design: The ADDIE Model. (Part three of a four-part series)

Image Source: https://pixabay.com/photos/ux-prototyping-design-webdesign-788002/

This is part three of a four-part series on the ADDIE model of instructional design, for the EDU 623 course.

Last time, we discussed the design phase of the ADDIE instructional design flamework. This week we will be discussing the development phase of the ADDIE model.

Quick refresher: ADDIE is an acronym for Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation. With ADDIE, the instructional design (ID) person defines a need, designs goals and objectives, develops said goals and objectives, rolls out the objectives, and then evaluates the entire process for improvement (McGriff, 2000).

In the development phase, an instructional designer creates a sample, develops the course/training materials, and conducts a cognitive walkthrough with individuals unfamiliar with the course topic/materials to gauge effectiveness (Gardner, 2011). 

Note: Click image to view full size. Image Source: Brigham, 2014. Modified by: William Kenyon, 2020.

The example above is known as a visual mock-up storyboard. Mock-up storyboards focus more on what the learner will see on screen and are typically created in Microsoft PowerPoint (Brigham, 2014).

Create a Sample

Creating a sample is important to ensure that the instructional designer is creating a learning experience that aligns with the goals/needs of the primary stakeholders; a storyboard can be used for such a purpose. A storyboard is essentially a roadmap for the entire course, or a particular course section. Presenting the sample to the primary stakeholder for review and approval is critical to ensure the course/training aligns with stakeholder expectations (Brigham, 2014). While there are many formats for storyboarding, a storyboard essentially contains multiple pages of the following (Brigham, 2014):

Project name:

Name of the course or training.

Screen title and page number:

Title of the screen (current page), and the page number of the storyboard.

Graphic:
A mock-up image of the training or course for the screen/page.

Graphic information:
Details of graphics or animation, if applicable.

Audio:
Voice-over narration or sounds.

Navigation:
How the learner advances.

Reviewer comments:
A place for reviewers to make comments.

For a more in depth overview of visual storyboarding, see the LinkedIn Learn course videos below:

Develop the course/training materials

Once the primary stakeholder/client approves the sample, the instructional designer would then develop the course materials. Remember, during the design phase the instructional designer has already determined which instructional activities to include in the course/training. Based on the feedback received from the client/shareholder, use the sample as the framework to develop the course/training (Gardner, 2011). Once finished, have the client review again for more feedback. If need be, the storyboard mock-up can be updated to reflect the entire course/training and materials for review. 

Conduct a cognitive walkthrough

A cognitive walkthrough is important to ensure the course/training outcomes are met effectively. Having a friend, or volunteers not connected to the course content in anyway, take the course/training as if they were actual students is a good way to give the course/training a test run. It is important that any blind spots that may have been missed by the instructional designer are found and updated to ensure the course/training outcomes are effectively met; a cognitive walkthrough helps do just that. A cognitive walkthrough helps answer questions about the course effectiveness. What works? What doesn't work? Should something be added? Should something be removed? Using the feedback from the volunteers during the cognitive walkthrough, the instructional designer can then make revisions as/if necessary.

Below you will find a short three-minute video from Gardner (2011) that walks through the design phase of the ADDIE model.

Be sure to check back for part four, due out in approximately two weeks from the date of this entry. 

References

Brigham, D. (2014). Instructional Design: Storyboarding [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.linkedin.com/learning/instructional-design-storyboarding/understanding-mock-up-storyboarding 

Gardner, J. C. [J. Clark Gardner]. (2011, September 25). The ADDIE Analysis Phase [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/JZdv5lrJs4U 

McGriff, S. (2000, September). Instructional System Design (ISD): Using the ADDIE Model. http://www.seas.gwu.edu/~sbraxton/ISD/general_phases.html