What is
Instructional Design?
Lauren Pressley
Instructional Design Librarian

You’re already doing it!

reality
http://www.flickr.com/photos/89898604@N00/6331302

process
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36521966221@N01/58710053

ID is the practice of
arranging content and
media to help transfer
knowledge between
teachers and learners.

system
http://www.flickr.com/photos/12836528@N00/1875348372

discipline
http://www.flickr.com/photos/33586091@N00/82648702

science
http://www.flickr.com/photos/43078695@N00/421949167

instructional technology
http://www.flickr.com/photos/86891211@N00/72224228

ID is the systematic
planning of instruction
including needs assessment,
development, evaluation,
implementation, and
evaluation of materials and
practices.

Who does it?

teachers
http://www.flickr.com/photos/83955435@N00/5484879

librarians
http://www.flickr.com/photos/43017881@N00/300753763

distance educators
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30628871@N00/119209886

instructional designers
http://www.flickr.com/photos/59771526@N00/3082489705

content developers
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8592579@N08/2714388359

for-profit
educators
http://www.flickr.com/photos/41677782@N00/2607925571

corporate
trainers
http://www.flickr.com/photos/88904268@N00/473445891

associations
American Society for Training & Development
International Society for Performance Improvement
Association for Educational Communications &
Technology
Sections within education associations

What does it do?

needs assessment
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28573874@N00/529565649

http://www.flickr.com/photos/46425925@N00/838363289
goals and objectives
identification

audience and setting
analysis
http://www.flickr.com/photos/51035555243@N01/155432855

content development
http://www.flickr.com/photos/49503102897@N01/4240571

delivery development
http://www.flickr.com/photos/25211216@N00/268633380

evaluation
http://www.flickr.com/photos/39383821@N00/2998417711

redesign
http://www.flickr.com/photos/76196395@N00/493450307

Where does it happen?

in your office
http://www.flickr.com/photos/88543347@N00/74046939

in the
classroom
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7841531@N07/2497299495

in your inbox
http://www.flickr.com/photos/17642817@N00/2660204217

wherever you get your
evaluations
http://www.flickr.com/photos/70321513@N00/95757299

When does it occur?

before
http://www.flickr.com/photos/49503102897@N01/58224782

during
http://www.flickr.com/photos/98203235@N00/1456852849

during
http://www.flickr.com/photos/83955435@N00/413659430

after
http://www.flickr.com/photos/78755281@N00/2152746600

Why does it happen?

meet required
objectives
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34353483@N00/24935477

anticipate needs
http://www.flickr.com/photos/73645804@N00/440672445

meet needs of unique
audiences
http://www.flickr.com/photos/41818779@N00/98309338

clarify your
intention
http://www.flickr.com/photos/46425925@N00/747786900

speed up
the process
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7843389@N02/2300190277

demonstrate
continued
improvement
http://www.flickr.com/photos/63314508@N00/3087559176

A lot informs this
process:

instructional design
models

taxonomies of learning

educational psychology

educational theorists

multiple intelligences

learning styles

teaching styles

learning theory

problem based learning

active learning

inquiry learning

classroom management

assessment

And we’re going to cover
all of this over the next
15 weeks.