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Every successful teaching experience or product development process needs to be thoroughly planned first. So much so, that a special practice in the field of educational technology has been introduced – instructional systems design – to facilitate that process with various instructional technology tools. Today we are going to talk about one of them, that is ADDIE model lesson plans, and how online tools and learning platforms such as Mitti (by SafetyCulture) can foster better results in ADDIE mode application.
ADDIE is an acronym for the five steps involved in the knowledge production process. Those are: Analysis, Design, Develop, Implement and Evaluate. The model has been in use since the 1950s when it was implemented in military training in the US, but it became common practice across other branches only in the 1970s. Instructional design systems (IDS) which the ADDIE acronym is a part of, originate from cognitive and behavioral psychology (some also attribute some influences on the system’s design). In short, IDS introduces a systematic approach geared towards an efficient, appealing, and engaging knowledge acquisition, learning-styles, and learning process.
Research shows, that standardization of creative processes allows for:
more intense learner engagement
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better results
It is worth mentioning though, that using the ADDIE lesson plans model does not implicate a strictly linear process. Rather, the steps are designed to complement each other in an intertwined process of lesson construction and indicate what methods and tools should come in handy at each step. Let’s look at all the steps of an effective training more closely.
So before anything else, what is the first step in the ADDIE training process? First, in the ANALYSIS stage, the designers of the course or a class must determine, who is their target audience and evaluate the preexisting declarative knowledge and pedagogy of the future participants. It’s a vital step because it allows us to sketch out the main goals of the class and make sure, that the lesson will communicate something new to the audience creating an opportunity to learn about theory and practice, instead of repeating what they already know. To determine the content of the class or a course, factors such as cultural background, age, language, and past educational goals should be considered. Then, to determine the desired learning outcomes, the following question should be answered: what skills and competencies do we want our participants to gain? What kind of constructivist behaviors are we trying to promote? The ADDIE analysis should outline the “take-home” message – what course participants should ideally gain from the class. Then, the aims and goals of the class should be matched with appropriate teaching methods (group work, discussion, brainstorming, counseling, etc.) and a collaborative learning environment. It’s also vital to outline the limitations of the class in terms of audience engagement, instructional technologies, tools, technical skills, or financial aspects.
After the analysis, comes the DESIGN stage. Here the course designers should focus on the adult learning objectives, subject matter analysis, resources, and planning. At this stage, in a corporate environment, IDS specialists collaborate closely with the subject matter experts, who help to determine the scope of knowledge and skill that needs to be included in the course and develop a sustainable teaching plan. This stage calls for planning and design of the strategies geared towards attaining the goals determined in the analysis. To achieve it, the following questions should be answered: what are my available resources? What kind of media and learning technology can I use? How will I assess the knowledge gained after each task? What evaluation techniques will I use? Experts say, it is useful to create a “roadmap”, which will depict how particular tasks are connected and how they lead to the achievement of the ultimate goal of the course. The outcome of this stage should be a complete, detailed learning strategy.
The DEVELOPMENT stage puts learning theory into practice – the strategies outlined in the learning design stage are being implemented with real participants, either in a mock-up course or in the real one. As challenging as it may seem, there is no other way to prove, that chosen methodologies and tools are fit for the job. The development stage is still very much about testing and feedback, which will allow us to pinpoint the drawbacks and hurdles to be dealt with before letting the course out in the world. Observation is key here: the behavior of the participants, the time slots for each task, how the training tools, techniques, instructional strategies, and course design by the instructional designer are being put into use, and if the main goals were achieved. Participant feedback is equally vital as it’s the only way to measure the levels of engagement and satisfaction.
Finally, the course can be IMPLEMENTED. It is equivalent to letting the product roam free and observe the outcome of the ADDIE design model learning. Experts say that this stage should not be free of constant evaluation and implementing modifications, where needed. IDs and students collaborate to achieve maximum efficiency, efficacy, engagement, and tool use optimization. The idea behind the implementation is progress, not stagnation, therefore IDs and subject matter experts overlooking the implementation processes should not stand beside but actively participate in the procedures, to learn about the possible shortcomings of the course and address them for performance improvement.
Finally, in the EVALUATION stage, the learnings from each stage are being put together for the final assessment of the course. To be sure, this is not the only moment for learning and development professionals to look back at what turned out well and what didn’t as reflection and evaluation should be inherent in every step, simultaneously with other formative practices of systems approach. Cooperation with designers and students is crucial to the constant improvement of the course and lessons learned will become invaluable in the next endeavors.
The use of online tools for implementing the ADDIE model lesson plan in the development processes can foster even better results. Mitti (by SafetyCulture), the leading mobile learning management system, is a great space to utilize while developing new learning strategies. With its state-of-the-art authoring tools, free course library (up to 10 users), ADDIE templates, and comprehensive feedback feature, Mitti (by SafetyCulture) enables you to give your ideas a beautiful shape. The ADDIE method has been proven to be highly successful across various branches of business. It universally answers to the needs of the L&D departments and their specialists, as it provides a blueprint for knowledge and skills development, thus fostering the process. It advantages institutional, corporate, and private learning equally and can be introduced in every instructional design process. Paired up with online-learning technologies such as Mitti (by SafetyCulture), it brings about great results.
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