Instructional Design
Instructional DesignThe ultimate goal of Instructional Design is to quickly and effectively teach people a new skill, or system of thinking. Elliot Masie, editor of TechLearn Trends, suggests ��all training is about behavioral stimulation that changes human beings on some level.�� (Masie, 1998, p. 14) This is a tall order ��to change human beings��, and therefore, any professional instructor that accepts this challenge must ask plenty of fundamental questions first. These essential questions are part of a process known as Needs Assessment. This critical front-end work is going to 1. Provide information about audience capabilities and preparedness.
2. Establish that, indeed, there is a need for training. 3. Reveal information regarding the company culture.
An instructor needs this information to choose tools for the program; the more you know your audience, both customer and learners, the more successful the program will be. There are several need assessment models to follow, but I will use ��The Zemke-Kramlinger Model of the Major Human and Organizational Factors that Affect People Performance in an Organization��. Their model asks hard questions in three different categories:
Performer Skills
�h What Abilities
�h What Skill Level
�h Job Knowledge
�h Objective
�h Needs
Company Support
�h Objective
�h Expectations
�h Reward
�h Punishment
�h Feedback
�h Support
Corporate Culture
�h History
�h Mission
�h Goals
�h Strategy
�h Tactics
�h Plans
Without this information, the designer is only guessing.
Once a designer is confident the needs assessment has provided a solid foundation to start building a program, different tools, or media, should be considered. The variety of tools ranges from simple (print) to high tech (satellite dish communication). The American Society for Training and Development has published a book that outlines an eight-step process for assisting in selection of the proper tools. The steps are as follows:
1. Understand all the training tools available with the benefits and drawbacks of their use.
2. List the media delivery...
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