So you’ve been charged with developing a new course – how exciting for you! What do you do first? What will you teach? What do you want your learners to take away? How will you teach this content? How will you evaluate the learners’ progress? All excellent questions, but is there some systematic way you can resolve all these issues? Absolutely – this is the science of Instructional Systems Design (ISD). Moore and Kearsley (2012, p. 97) describe how ISD came to fruition after World War II as a process to effectively and efficiently design training programs. The definitive work on ISD is authored by Dr. Chuck Hodell, titled “ISD From the Ground Up” (2011). Dr. Hodell states in his book “ISD in its purist form is simply a system for the design, implementation, and evaluation of instruction” (p. 17).
The backbone of ISD is PLANNING. Moore & Kearsley (pp. 97-98) describe an instructional systems model referred to as ADDIE, which stands for analysis, design, development, implementation and evaluation. Hodell explains that the ADDIE model gives designers a structure that can be used to design a curriculum regardless of delivery (face-to-face, blended, distance) (p. 24). At face value it seems that each phase of ADDIE is a stand-alone element, but this is not the case. In fact, ADDIE has come under fire in recent years and hailed as being “outdated” (Huhn, para. 9). As Huhn points out, the originally proposed ADDIE model, developed in the 1970s by Florida State University, WAS very linear and rigid (para. 9). But instructional designers quickly adapted this model to allow more fluidity. For example, the ADDIE model is often criticized for having evaluation as the final element. However, the successful instructional designer recognizes that evaluation is pervasive throughout the process, a part of each element of the model, as shown in the diagram.
As the ADDIE model has been criticized in recent years for being “too systematic, that is, too linear, too inflexible, too constraining, and even too time consuming to implement” (Kruse, 2009), a replacement model referred to as “SAM” has been proposed. SAM stands for “Successive Approximation Model” and it is considered to be an “agile learning design” defined as “an interactive model of instructional design that focuses on collaboration and rapid prototyping” (Huhn, para. 1). Michael Allen, the developer of SAM advocates four criterion for instructional design model selection (Allen, 2012, pp. 30-33):
What’s an instructional designer to do? Should we really dump ADDIE? ADDIE who has been there for instructional designers through thick and thin, feast and famine? Should we jump on board with this new smooth talker named SAM? I think the answer lies somewhere in the middle. I agree with Huhn who states that agility in instructional design is critical; he states “rapid prototyping, consulting with the client early on, and the constant collaboration leads to faster, more innovative solutions” (para. 11) BUT, I like the necessary “buy in” at each stage seen in the ADDIE model. I vote for setting up camp in the middle – maybe SAM could marry ADDIE? I’m going with a SADDIE model – a lightning quick iterative process that considers analysis, design, development and implement with super quick evaluation superimposed over the whole process!
Allen, M., & Sites, R. (2012). Successive Approximation Model 1. In Leaving ADDIE for SAM: An agile model for developing the best learning experiences. Alexandria, Virginia: American Society for Training and Development.
Hodell, C. (2011). ISD practices and principles. In ISD from the ground up a no-nonsense approach to instructional design (3rd ed.). Alexandria, Va.: ASTD Press.
Huhn, J. (2013, May 11). Agile vs ADDIE: Which Is Better for Learning Design? Retrieved March 14, 2015, from http://www.bottomlineperformance.com/agile-vs-addie-which-is-better-for-learning-design/
Kruse, K. (2009, January 1). Introduction to Instructional Design and the ADDIE model. Retrieved March 14, 2015, from http://www.transformativedesigns.com/id_systems.html
Allen, M., & Sites, R. (2012). Successive Approximation Model 1. In Leaving ADDIE for SAM: An agile model for developing the best learning experiences. Alexandria, Virginia: American Society for Training and Development.
Plaster, M. (2014, July 3). Iterative Design Models: ADDIE vs SAM | eLearning Mind. Retrieved March 14, 2015, from http://elearningmind.com/iterative-design-different-strokes-different-folks/
The backbone of ISD is PLANNING. Moore & Kearsley (pp. 97-98) describe an instructional systems model referred to as ADDIE, which stands for analysis, design, development, implementation and evaluation. Hodell explains that the ADDIE model gives designers a structure that can be used to design a curriculum regardless of delivery (face-to-face, blended, distance) (p. 24). At face value it seems that each phase of ADDIE is a stand-alone element, but this is not the case. In fact, ADDIE has come under fire in recent years and hailed as being “outdated” (Huhn, para. 9). As Huhn points out, the originally proposed ADDIE model, developed in the 1970s by Florida State University, WAS very linear and rigid (para. 9). But instructional designers quickly adapted this model to allow more fluidity. For example, the ADDIE model is often criticized for having evaluation as the final element. However, the successful instructional designer recognizes that evaluation is pervasive throughout the process, a part of each element of the model, as shown in the diagram.
As the ADDIE model has been criticized in recent years for being “too systematic, that is, too linear, too inflexible, too constraining, and even too time consuming to implement” (Kruse, 2009), a replacement model referred to as “SAM” has been proposed. SAM stands for “Successive Approximation Model” and it is considered to be an “agile learning design” defined as “an interactive model of instructional design that focuses on collaboration and rapid prototyping” (Huhn, para. 1). Michael Allen, the developer of SAM advocates four criterion for instructional design model selection (Allen, 2012, pp. 30-33):
- The process must be iterative
- The process must support collaboration
- The process must be efficient and effective
- The process must be manageable
What’s an instructional designer to do? Should we really dump ADDIE? ADDIE who has been there for instructional designers through thick and thin, feast and famine? Should we jump on board with this new smooth talker named SAM? I think the answer lies somewhere in the middle. I agree with Huhn who states that agility in instructional design is critical; he states “rapid prototyping, consulting with the client early on, and the constant collaboration leads to faster, more innovative solutions” (para. 11) BUT, I like the necessary “buy in” at each stage seen in the ADDIE model. I vote for setting up camp in the middle – maybe SAM could marry ADDIE? I’m going with a SADDIE model – a lightning quick iterative process that considers analysis, design, development and implement with super quick evaluation superimposed over the whole process!
Allen, M., & Sites, R. (2012). Successive Approximation Model 1. In Leaving ADDIE for SAM: An agile model for developing the best learning experiences. Alexandria, Virginia: American Society for Training and Development.
Hodell, C. (2011). ISD practices and principles. In ISD from the ground up a no-nonsense approach to instructional design (3rd ed.). Alexandria, Va.: ASTD Press.
Huhn, J. (2013, May 11). Agile vs ADDIE: Which Is Better for Learning Design? Retrieved March 14, 2015, from http://www.bottomlineperformance.com/agile-vs-addie-which-is-better-for-learning-design/
Kruse, K. (2009, January 1). Introduction to Instructional Design and the ADDIE model. Retrieved March 14, 2015, from http://www.transformativedesigns.com/id_systems.html
Allen, M., & Sites, R. (2012). Successive Approximation Model 1. In Leaving ADDIE for SAM: An agile model for developing the best learning experiences. Alexandria, Virginia: American Society for Training and Development.
Plaster, M. (2014, July 3). Iterative Design Models: ADDIE vs SAM | eLearning Mind. Retrieved March 14, 2015, from http://elearningmind.com/iterative-design-different-strokes-different-folks/
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