As students graduate and enter the workforce, they face the job market's demand for critical thinking (CT) skills. The demand is caused by the market's increasing need for providing professional services that require performing complex tasks. In response to this demand, institutions of higher education are expected to prepare their graduate…

Training can often be the right answer--or part of the right answer--to help people learn how to do something that is new for them. Although some may be tempted to ignore instructional design when faced with a tight time line, that is exactly when following a systematic process can provide a recipe for success. Given six important questions, the…

Structured decomposition is explained as a process of reduction to parts of an educational program. Resulting substructures aid in an overview of the entire entity. (RAO)

This examination of the Air Force instructional development model begins by presenting the history of instructional development in the Air Force and providing reasons for the adoption of the instructional systems development (ISD) process. Each step of the ISD process is explained, and supporting forms and diagrams are provided. The steps…

Proposed is a comprehensive instructional design model which (1) suggests a systems-based approach to preparing, implementing, and evaluating instruction at the program syllabus, course syllabus, and instructional unit levels; (2) subsumes those various dimensions of a mastery learning strategy which encompass preconditions, operating procedures,…

Developmental research, as opposed to simple instructional development, has been defined as the systematic study of designing, developing, and evaluating instructional programs, processes, and products that must meet criteria of internal consistency and effectiveness. Developmental research is particularly important in the field of instructional…

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)

This book describes the evolution of New American Schools (NAS) and its strategy for reform during its first 6 years of operation. After a short introduction in chapter 1, chapter 2 outlines the potential contribution of school designs and design-based assistance to education reform, focusing on the nature of NAS designs, the character of…

Simulations, which can be defined as formalized techniques for studying complex systems by manipulating the variables in a scaled-down model and observing the results, are useful instructional tools. They provide individualized, self-paced, learner-controlled education, offer discovery experiences which are realistic, and promote problem-solving,…

Provides guidelines for systemic change in education. Presents an overview of the change process. Discusses preparing for change; building a core team to lead the design effort; transforming vision into system design; shifting focus from planning to implementation; and implementation, summative evaluation, and closure. (AEF)

Instructional product development--the purpose of which has been to create materials which produce in an identified population of users demonstrable changes in behavior, in accordance with prespecified and specific objectives--generally adheres to a pattern which includes planning, formulating, prototyping measures and materials, field testing,…

Three articles discuss instructional design considerations in education for executives: (1) "The Use of the Measurement of Continuous Improvement Model for Training Program Evaluation" (Ferdinand Tesoro); (2) "The Systems Design Approach to Developing Computer Based Instruction" (Gerry Costello); and (3) "Training as a…

This publication presents an instructional system design (ISD) which is a systematic procedure for assuring the application of planning and organization to vocational programs. The resulting instructional system, according to the author, is an integrated combination of resources, students, instructors, materials, equipment, techniques, and…

The design, development, and evaluation of a computer-assisted instruction (CAI) program in first-year college chemistry is described in this report. The program was centered around the concept of chemical equilibrium and used a systems approach with explicitly stated guidelines. The purpose of this experiment was not to measure the effectiveness…

The guidelines and procedures for the development of course materials for presentation by a computerized instructional system are described in this report. The tutorial mode of the instructional model is emphasized. The guide is intended to furnish the experienced instructional programer with a ready reference which can be used to facilitate the…