Instructional System Design - Quick Guide

Organizations that require a full ISD development will normally have the own flavor of ISD. This template is for trainers who need a method to rapidly and accurately solve performance problems.

For a different aspect, read ISD is Like Shopping at a Deli. Also see ISD at Warp Speed.

Analyze the Problem

• Ensure you understand the problem enough so that you can describe it. Work with the clients to obtain a good grasp of the problem. Verify the problem. Observation is the best.
• Ensure it is a training problem rather than another performance problem.
• Use Subject Matter Experts (SME) to help you.
• Brainstorm a solution with the clients. Make them part of the solution.
• What is the exact task that must be performed and the performance gap that is causing the problem?
• What major media will best deliver the performance solution?
• Evaluation:
  • Does your solution solve a business problem (positive impact upon the organization)? Is it a training problem or a different performance problem?
  • Is there a similar solution available? Do NOT fall into the "not invented here" syndrome. That is, if it was not built by us, we are not going to use it. Do not "reinvent the wheel" as it saves resources.

Designing a Specification

• Build the objectives or goals.
• Build a test or measurement instrument.
• Build the activities that will lead to performance.
• Construct the Performance Steps - how do we go from a non-performer to a performer?
• Evaluation:
  • Do the performance steps proceed logically from the objectives to task performance?
  • Trial and test the evaluation instrument.

Develop the Courseware

• Create the material that will support the design blueprint. See A Model for Instructional Design for some ideas.

Implement the Solution

• Use learner feedback to enhance the program.
• Evaluation:
  • Does it solve the learners' problems?
  • Does it solve the business unit's problem?

Evaluation

• Performed throughout entire process. During the:
  • analysis phase - ensure you identified the learning gaps and that your findings point you towards a proper solution.
  • design phase - create learning objectives that will solve the performance gap and the tests or performance instruments actually test what they are supposed to test.
  • development phase - use rapid prototyping techniques to ensure the instruction design works correctly.
  • implementation phase - get feedback on course in order to improve it.
  • evaluation phase - ensure the training does what it is supposed to do -- eliminate the performance gap.

Notes