Instructional Design Strategies

Instructional design strategies can be combined and applied to design training or courses. I typically combine 4-5 strategies together and apply them in my designs. The reasons for choosing your strategies depends on your audience, content, and purpose.

For the last e-learning tutorials I developed, I included the following strategies:

• Gagne’s 9 Events of Instruction - incorporating this model requires adding details such as a list of topics the learned, introductory video or image and welcoming voice-over. Stimulation of prior knowledge is covered with task-based learning. The screencasts will guide the learner through each task. A survey will be provided at the end to collect feedback.
   

  Image from UNT Health Science Center

  
  

  http://www.hsc.unt.edu/departments/cld/CourseDesign-TeachingStrategies.cfm
• Cognitive Load Theory – create short screencasts of complicated functions to simplify them. Base each topic on tasks the learner would complete on the job (task-based).
   
  Image from SHIFT's eLearning Blog:
  http://info.shiftelearning.com/blog/design-elearning-to-protect-the-learner-from-overload
• Incorporating Learning Styles — the Storyline 2 screencasts will provide visual and auditory content in combination with tasked-based learning for problem solving techniques, and concrete facts.

Retrieved from: https://lsuagcenterode.wordpress.com/2011/08/16/incorporating-learning-styles-into-program-design/

• Utilizing Technology – the screencasts will utilize the latest version of Articulate Storyline and will include highlights and zooms. The latest audio technology will also be used to create high quality voice-over.
• Implement Elements and Principles of Design - design each scene with the elements and principles of design to create ease of learning:
• Balance - balance the visual weight of objects, text, color, and space.
• Emphasis - emphasis important text, create a visual hierarchy.
• Movement - this is the path the viewers eye will take
• Pattern- repetition of an object or placement of items.
• Repetition - works with the pattern and creates unity. Repetition of objects and text in scenes creates ease of learning.
• Proportion - the unity created when parts relate with each other.
• Rhythm - one or more elements are used repeatedly, creating the feeling of organization.
• Variety - the use of many elements to hold viewer's attention.
• Unity - harmony between all parts of work.
  From: https://www.getty.edu/education/teachers/building_lessons/principles_design.pdf

The final product was an Articulate Storyline 2 e-learning course, composed of 50 or more short tutorials that were task-based, included a Title, image, supporting/call out text, and audio with each slide displaying a uniform format. This created ease of learning to the audience.