Apply learning theories and systems thinking to design practice.
Functional design aligns with science, math, and learner feedback to produce valuable information for the Instructional Designer. People across all industries like to talk about design. Most people don’t realize that design is rooted in fact, education, and experience. Design must fully evaluate assessment to reach learning requirements in order to work appropriately. Not only is design not understood or used correctly but gets a bad rap for being subjective. Instructional Designers must let go of personal biases to design with context and substance. The results of accurate design procedures allow content to reach the user more efficiently.
Personally, I tend to see the big picture and miss the details. Wholeness in systems terms links components and functionality for the user. The details are found in what's called the micro level. Here is often where the pedagogy, training theory, and practice take place. The Instructional Designer has to use creativity and understanding of the content, be able to develop meaningful objectives, blending methods and procedures, and combine educational tools to piece together the holistic approaches. I created a blog that talks about learning theories and systems thinking called Exploration Web 2.0.
Read more about what cool technologies and applications for learning I find interesting at the link below.
Design for learning and performance. As well as for curriculum, programs, and learning solutions.
To improve performance Instructional Designers must communicate to learners the expectations of the training. Graphic materials work as supports for the learner as they become more familiar with the content. Design will help bridge the gap between learning and performance when done correctly. That is why it is so important that Instructional Designers incorporate appropriate design in everything from curriculum, programs, projects, and learning solutions. Check out the link below to see my Instructional Wrestling Document: How to Wrestle, where I try to use design applications to enhance training.
Work with subject-matter experts and other team members to design interventions.
Let's take a look at the evolution of Instructional Design and Project Management. Much of the design work in major companies is outsourced to organizations, startups, or individuals offering design expertise. Many Instructional Designers that work for major companies are project managers and supervisor contractors, not IDers. Coaching the external design team on the culture of the organization is an important role of the Instructional Designer. They have to be versatile. The project manager has to motivate and educate employees whereas Instructional Designers takes control of the design/plan of the project. When the Instructional Designer is also the Project Manager they become the design coach and nurturer of the company culture. Making sure the project is directly related to the organization and implementation of the company plan. In my current position, I work with instructional designers, project managers, subject matter experts, writers, editors, developers, and graphic artists creating online training courses. Every position plays an important role in getting the work done efficiently and on time.
Create instructional strategies and activities. Bring outcomes, process, and tasks to your work. Apply interaction design principles.
A lot goes into creating a site for a program. The Instructional Designer has to consider the instructional strategies and activities necessary to promote learning objectives and progress so the learner can move through the materials more effectively. This is most easily accomplished by working with stakeholders, user data, and a clear understanding of the content. Developing quality training produces quality learner outcomes, efficient process procedures, and appropriate job tasks. If instructional designers can get learners motivated and involved with learning they are more likely to have positive interactions with the content. The interaction between users and the learning system helps Instructional Designers to develop strategies and activities for individual learners. I made a Youth Wrestling Program Website that aimed to develop informed, educated, and excited learning. Have a look by clicking the link below.
Measure learning and performance.
Think about the level of measurement users receive when playing games. Gamification has a lot going for it because it creates user data that tracks individual learning and performance. Games create engagement, enthusiasm, social connectivity, and instantaneous feedback. Recently gamification has become very attractive in the education field. Games have come a long way, to the point that they are influencing many other domains. The camera angles, perspectives, and storylines used in popular games are being adopted in popular culture. The ability to tell stories and overlap learning situations in gradual moves is great for learning. Much the way shaping works to inch learners towards their goals. For shaping to work learners are not to move on to the next phase until the previous goal is firmly established. Learner’s develop skills by repeatedly playing the levels, activities, and problem area.
Identify scope and sequence. Use visual design principles appropriately.
The application of art and science in communication terms is design. Art provides the tools for the basic elements of design like type, shape, color, depth, and space. Science provides the technique for application and evaluation. Science also gives Instructional Designers the procedures to analyze, create, and evaluate. The combination of the two disciplines provides a method for communicating information and instruction that is individually and more broadly effective for data retention. Instructional Designers use the design process to identify scope and sequence for developing projects. Check out this infographic I made using visual literacy to convey a message.
An InfoGraphic balances order and chaos. Getting started building an infographic requires the Instructional Designer to get resources and support. To prepare for creating infographics it is important to organizing early and often. I have a checklist of questions that should be answered before building out any materials for a project.
Generate design documents and circulate findings to stakeholders. Provide a rationale for design decisions.
Always ask the stakeholder and users these questions: 1. Did the content provide a greater understanding of the subject material? 2. How well did the course content align with the stated objectives? 3. What is the overall ease of use and aesthetic delivery of the content and materials? 4. Is the volume and quality of learning styles present? 5. Did you receive adequate feedback to ensure understanding of the material provided in the course?
For design to have an effective impact there must be visual literacy. In the digital landscape, competencies are designed to bring clarity to understanding. Objects on a screen should make information meaningful and memorable by making sense, existing within a defined space, being understood by others, and present clear and relatable ideas. I will use job aids to present information at just the right time for the learner. They tend to provide specific functions in a complex set of environments making them very effective in the workplace.
I always pinpoint who makes the decisions about the project. I ask specific questions about work dynamics, hierarchy, and performance in order to better understand my audience.
Set effective design models.
Effective design models use the principles of design to answer questions and create solutions. Instructional Designers don’t have to know everything about a topic to create effective instruction (but it does help). Including doing the research, calling on subject matter experts, and collecting user evaluations Instructional Designers can use effective design models to direct the way they display content. I put together a pottery website that uses design techniques to promote and motivate individuals to create pottery. Check out my Pottery Site by clicking the link below.
