This document discusses the evolution of instructional materials design. Effective materials usually include goals aligned with course requirements, accurate and up-to-date information, well-organized content, appropriate reading levels, and an absence of biases. While textbooks remain the most common format, technology has increased the importance of visual presentation with features like graphics and typefaces. Instructional materials must be practical, aligned, cover content effectively, and include readability, teaching methods, assessment, and management.