A survey was administered to look at required textbooks used in Instructional Design and Technology graduate programs during the 2009-2010 academic year. There were 91 U.S. programs and 20 international programs that had at least one faculty response. Based on the findings, there were various changes and trends in the types of textbooks that are…

This fifth in a series of edited transcripts based on a conference at Utah State University compares elements in Gagne's Events of Instruction with Merrill's Component Display Theory (CDT). Topics discussed include presenting objectives to the student; prior learning; stimulus and guidance; and presentation forms. (six references) (LRW)

Describes and compares various assumptions of instructional design and of constructivism, some of which have been raised in other articles in this issue. Topics discussed include instructional design theory; instructional systems theory; mental models; categories of knowledge; knowledge representation; instructional strategies; collaborative…

Discusses the appropriate use of the instructional systems design (ISD) process and compares it to the appropriate use of the dog-breeding process according to the AKC (American Kennel Club). Topics include constructivism and objectivism, or behaviorism; instructional effectiveness; and the use of design models. (Author/LRW)

Compares factors required for a successful distance education course to requirements for designing a unit of instruction using instructional systems design (ISD). Application of these requirements to video teletraining is discussed to demonstrate that teaching ISD may be accomplished by teaching preservice teachers how to design a distance…

This fourth in a series of edited transcripts based on a conference at Utah State University compares Gagne's Conditions of Learning with Merrill's Component Display/Design Theory, and suggests a merging of the two. Topics discussed include content structures, learning hierarchies, learning theories, learner control, problem solving, cognitive…

Discussion of educational systems design describes four systems levels that can be emphasized: learning experience, instructional, administration, and governance levels. Factors to be considered in selecting a focus level and the implications of focusing on the learning experience level are discussed; and a table comparing instructional and…

Describes two studies designed to identify and validate principles of effective microcomputer manual design. In the first, instructional science students rated design principles of four computer manuals using a computer manual checklist; in the second, instructional effectiveness of these design principles was tested by comparing microcomputer…

This third in a series of edited transcripts based on a conference at Utah State University describes Merrill's Component Design Theory (CDT) and compares it to his earlier Component Display Theory. Topics discussed include concept structures, knowledge acquisition, components of an instructional design system, and a new CDT matrix. (10…

Addresses problems in evaluation that are raised by constructivism. Highlights include a comparison of objectivism and constructivism; constructivistic criteria, including goal-free evaluation, which focus on authentic tasks, knowledge construction, context-driven evaluation, the appropriate stages of knowledge acquisition, and multiple…

Compares the analysis, design, development, and evaluation of electronic performance support tools and systems to a traditional instructional systems design model. Topics discussed include indeterminate outcomes; rapid prototyping; front end analysis; intervention strategies; sequencing; user control; media selection; formative evaluation; and…

Reviews four different approaches to evaluation--decision-oriented, applied research, value-oriented, and systems-oriented--and suggests how each may be applied to the evaluation of instructional programs. Nine references are listed. (Author/CHC)

Provides an overview of this issue focusing on relationships between instructional design (ID) and classroom teachers. Topics addressed include ID in teacher planning, including the systems approach; teachers' understanding of learning theory; instructional planning; a comparison of experiences of educators who were trained in ID; and distance…

Describes a series of studies of fourth graders that investigated the cueing effectiveness of seven variables for use with visual information. Contrasting cueing strategies that were tested are described, cueing effects on average and below average learners are discussed, and tentative guidelines for instructional designers are suggested. (35…

Discussion of differences in skills and abilities needed for instructional designers in academic versus business settings focuses on a survey of Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) and National Society for Performance and Instruction (NSPI) members. Employment criteria and data upon which these criteria are judged are…