I recently read a blog post by Janet Clarey highlighting the need to go back to the basics.
These 'basics' are different for everyone. But like all subjects and bodies of knowledge, there are a few foundational concepts that have been identified and acknowledged as such. Without knowing and understanding these basics, we can't claim to be successfully practicing our subject - the subject of instructional design.
No sooner did I tell Janet that I'd like to contribute to an elearning site on the basics, I encountered a query (not the first). I am posting parts of the query (and I am sure my dear friend & colleague will not mind me doing so!)
"…she doesn't have an ID background...are there any websites or books that she could read for guidance and basically on how to get started...can you suggest some sites or books that may be good with fundamentals…"
And so begins the struggle of a first-time instructional designer.
For my friend and many others out there who have often called and written to me asking about good websites and books for learning the basics of Instructional Design AND for others who don't know me but are no less interested in a good list of resources… well, here's my top 10!
This list is a combination of books and sites that offer theory, models, examples, and mentors!
My list of top 10 resources on Instructional Design - basics and more:
1. What Everybody Ought to Know About Instructional Design - Tom Kuhlmann's articulation of the importance of instructional design/role of an instructional designer - simply superb! I have often used this video and the associated text when conducting training on ID basics for new hires in the field.
2. The Instructional Design Knowledgebase - Retrieved August 03, 2010 from Nada Dabbagh's Homepage, George Mason University, Instructional Technology Program. - An excellent and very comprehensive site that talks all about instructional design and the ISD Process. A good place to start with the basics and then continue learning. Infact, if there was one single resource that I had to choose - it would be this one!
3. Instructional Systems Design (ISD) - An excellent resource to understand the ISD process, ADDIE Model or Systems Approach to Training (SAT).
4. ID Models - Use this site to learn about design, instructional design, and models of instructional design.
5. Instructional Design & Learning Theory - Refer to this white paper to learn more about the three basic theories of learning. Trust me, you will keep coming back to this resource. As you progress in your field and gain experience, the words will offer deeper meanings.
6. Essential Reading for Instructional Design - Well, the list of books recommened by Cammy Bean should fit into the learning library of any instructional designer - new and experienced.
7. Top-10 Books on ID - A site that lists the top 10 ID books recommended by eminent scholars, theorists, and practitioners in instructional design and technology. Specific books are repeatedly nominated - those are the foundational ones.
8. The 60 Minutes Masters - A free course designed by Clive Shepherd and his team to train Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) in Instructional Design. But really, the basics here are applicable for all roles involved in the process.
9. Top E-learning Blogs of 2009 - An excellent resource that gives a list of top blogs by some exceptional people. Start reading and following these blogs to keep learning.
10. Elearning Learning - A community collecting and organizing the best information on the web about eLearning.
Having shared the list above, I must add that I don't have any formal education in instructional design. Also, I don't claim to be an expert who knows it all. So, the list above is by no means the most comprehensive.
But I do know that these sites have been useful and helpful to me. After practicing instructional design for 11 years, I often go back to these basics. Everything I know and have gathered is because I teach others (and teaching is the best learning activity!) and I try to practice and do what I learn.
So, for all you budding instructional designers - you won't learn much just by reading. Find opportunities to apply and practice what you have learnt. Learn by doing.
PS: For my readers - If you have any websites/books/blogs/other resources that have been useful for you in your journey of all things teaching/learning/instructional design, I'd be happy to add the same to my list!
Thanks for the mention Taruna; much appreciated!
ReplyDeleteBest regards,
The E-Learning Curve Blog
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This is a good effort!
ReplyDeleteNafay
www.kreeo.com
Really helpful for newbies as well as for experienced ID professionals...Good Job!!!
ReplyDelete@ Michael - Your blog (E-learning Curve) is an extremely useful resource for all things e-learning and technology. The podcasts that elaborate on e-learning topics covered on your blog are also quite useful.
ReplyDelete@Nafay - Thanks for your comment. I wish you success with Kreeo and the evolving Body of Knowledge (BOK)!
@Guptazee - Thanks for your comment. I am glad you found the list useful.
Hi Taruna,
ReplyDeleteThats a good start! Surely would recommend all to go through these links. :) Thanks for putting this up.
Regards,
Sabari
www.rubikube.com
@Sabari - Thanks for your comment. I am glad you found the list useful. Feel free to share with your team :)
ReplyDeletehi... very informative for a newcomer to the field, like me... I'm 38, from advertising (copywriter/creative-director) and considering a lateral migration to the field of ID... Any where you recommend beginning to get a toe-hold in the industry... i'm looking at live projects... thanks & best regards, Jayjit Dasgupta (jayjitd@gmail.com, 9999644576, east delhi)
ReplyDeleteI appreciated your comment “Learn by doing”. All too often in education people rely upon reading. Cognitive information processing theories do suggest that learning be tailored to meet student’s existing knowledge then build upon that knowledge. Instead of just reading to acquire knowledge, learners need to experience what they are learning to build upon their existing schemata. By building upon the existing schemata, encoding is strengthened. Elaborating on the new material into a meaningful experience increases the opportunity to move the learned concepts into the long term memory. As a graduate student in Instruction Design and Technology program, your site offers me a wealth of information.
ReplyDeleteI appreciated your comment “Learn by doing”. All too often in education people rely upon reading. Cognitive information processing theories do suggest that learning be tailored to meet student’s existing knowledge then build upon that knowledge. Instead of just reading to acquire knowledge, learners need to experience what they are learning to build upon their existing schemata. By building upon the existing schemata, encoding is strengthened. Elaborating on the new material into a meaningful experience increases the opportunity to move the learned concepts into the long term memory. As a graduate student in Instruction Design and Technology program, your site offers me a wealth of information.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment Kitterkat. I am glad that you find my blog useful as you complete your graduate studies in ID! Wish you success.
ReplyDeleteI appreciated your comment “Learn by doing”. All too often in education people rely upon reading. Cognitive information processing theories suggest that learning be tailored to meet student’s existing knowledge then build upon that knowledge. Dr. Ormrod reminds us that we should present material to students in a manner that facilitates the students’ ability to remember the material (Laureate Education Inc., 2009). The links you provide in your webpage help instructional designers quickly access a variety of instructional strategies to build upon existing schema.
ReplyDeleteOrmrod, Schunk and Gredler (2009) stated, “People must take into account their purpose in learning and modify learning strategies accordingly” (p. 52). Instead of just reading to acquire knowledge, learners need to experience what they are learning to build upon their existing schemata. By building upon the existing schemata, encoding is strengthened. Elaborating on the new material into a meaningful experience increases the opportunity to move the learned concepts into the long term memory. As Ormrod, Schunk, and Gredler (2009) imply elaborating on the prior learner material will help change a person’s schema to facilitate recognition and long term storage of the information. Instructional designers need to present information in a variety of ways to aid in the storage and retrieval of newly acquired knowledge.
As a graduate student in Instruction Design and Technology program, your site offers me a wealth of information.
References:
Laureate Education, Inc (Producer). (2009) Information processing and problem solving [DVD].
Learning theories. Baltimore, MD: Dr. Ormrod.
Ormrod, J., Schunk, D., & Gredler, M. (2009). Learning theories and instruction (Laureate
custom edition). New York, NY: Pearson.
Really thanks for sharing this! I absolutely love your blog, well done!
ReplyDeleteThanks Julien. I am glad you enjoy reading my blog.
ReplyDeleteAs an ID student I can appreciate the list of resources. I appreciate your refernece to starting with the basics and the basics being different for everyone. During my career I have been the training specialist and delivering the information and I am very confident when i am in front of the class. As a student of instructional design I am learning the basics and learning what it takes to develop the material. I appreciate your comment about learn by doing. If one doesnt practice what they have learned it will be bery hard to engage the learner.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment Alicia. Glad to know that you found the list of resources useful. Wish you success with your learning endeavors.
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