Module 5: Instructions and Instructional Design
Technical Writing by Tiffani Tijerina is licensed CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 International
Technical Writing by Tiffani Tijerina is licensed CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 International
Define instructional design as a process, science, and discipline and distinguish its core principles from traditional technical communication.
Perform a target audience analysis to design instruction that centers on the learner, maps to a central goal, and avoids debunked educational myths like "learning styles."
Structure comprehensive user manuals incorporating standardized modules including titles, introductions, chronological step-by-step numbered lists, and distinct tiered safety levels.
Evaluate and apply a culturally inclusive approach to instructional artifacts by effectively blending text, graphics, and layout to achieve cross-cultural resonance.
Systematically test the usability of their instructional documents with live users, gather qualitative feedback, and collaborate with peers to iteratively refine their deliverables.
While we have a few videos from me throughout the class, I'm not one to reinvent the wheel. The following videos are fantastic explanations of ADDIE, which is the most standards and well-known process model in instructional design. ADDIE stands for: Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation.
*Explainer and knowledge check questions generated with Notebook LM, using Open TC 2e, Chapter 18 as the source content.
More than Memos is a YouTube account with some really great analyses of different examples of technical communication. With each module, I'll assign you a video to watch with a different example. Enjoy!
Instructional design is a structured approach to developing effective learning experiences and materials. As discussed in "What is This Thing Called Instructional Design?", instructional design can be viewed as a process, discipline, science, and reality that applies across various industries--not just education.
In this discussion, consider how instructional design principles apply to your major and/or future career. Address the following:
Connection to Your Field: How does instructional design fit into your discipline or intended profession? Consider examples such as training programs, technical documentation, product tutorials, onboarding materials, or other forms or knowledge transfer.
Applying Instructional Design: How might you engage with instructional design as a process, discipline, science, or reality in your work? Choose at least one of those perspectives and explain how it applies to a real-world scenario in your field.
Challenges and Considerations: What challenges might professionals in your field face when designing instructional materials? How could understanding instructional design help overcome these challenges?
If you're comfortable, share personal experiences or observations related to instructional design in your field. After posting your response, engage with at least one classmate by expanding on their ideas or providing additional insights.