Running head: INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN TRENDS 1

Instructional Design Trends

Dan O'Brien

CUR 516

June 27, 2016

Professor Joan Beckner

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Instructional Design Trends

Instructional designers today have many options for the method of delivery on

instructional materials and programs. Distance and correspondence education, which started

with correspondence courses in learning shorthand back in the eighteenth century, was slow to

change due to lack of new technologies to deliver the course materials. As new technologies

were developed in the area of communications so did distance education. Radio was used for

course content delivery in the early portion the twentieth century along with television that

followed in the later part of the century. These communication technologies gave instructional

designers additional options of how courses were delivered. This format was only proven to

work mostly for pedagogy style courses such as college general education requirements. It was

not until the public had access to another new communication technology, the internet, which

instructional design was able to change. The internet provided a platform to deliver just about

any form of communication, but it was not until the introduction of mobile devices and a

network of available connection points was the internet able to be fully utilized. In todays

modern world just about any person can access the internet from a mobile device from almost

anywhere. Online degree programs, which are utilizing these mobile devices, are allowing

working professional to return to educational pursuits. Companies are now able to train

employees and customers with instructional programs that are consistent throughout locations

worldwide.

The need for instructional designers has increased by 50% in the last decade and this

trend will continue to grow as more instructional content is prepared for online instructional

programs. The United States has a large immigrant population that is in need of employment

skills, much of this new online content will be directed at this population. Along the immigrant
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population the U.S. also has a large community of older adults that are in need of new job skills.

Grants from the government have already been awarded to schools, community colleges,

universities, community education and other service agencies to serve this need, more

instructional programs will cater to this population.

Academic and Professional Learning in Ten Years

Education institutions for primary, secondary, colleges and private companies are starting

to use a combined approach of online materials with traditional classroom lecture. This trend is

to continue and grow. Vocational training programs at public and private institutions will employ

more of basic fundamental foundational types of skills in learning management systems. With

foundation skills taught in a learning management systems there will be less of a need for

expensive equipment and existing equipment will see more focused use. This practice is already

in use at companies such as Hexagon Metrology which sells high technology metrology

equipment. Hexagon U is an eLearning course system allowing the company to offer classes to

customers on site and off site. Actual set-up and operation of metrology equipment can be

exercised in courses on site or at the customers location. Other companies selling advanced

technology equipment are also offering such eLearning programs. These eLearning programs

will be more common and eventually be offered at our public colleges and schools where it can

enhance the educational experience.

Another possible consideration is that with more online instructional programs some

courses that utilize technology and equipment may be able to deliver the majority of class

materials in an online format. The facilities that house the equipment may be utilized more for

testing, certifications and skills evaluation. It is noted that online instructional materials will

never be able to completely replace the need for facilities. One would not want to have their car
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fixed by an all online certified mechanic just as one would not want an online certified surgeon

to perform their next medical procedure. Online instructional designs could make better use of

time, facilities and equipment for many types of training programs.

Forward thinking companies such as Apple have entered into the area online education

with the introduction iTunes University in 2007. The intention of this new educational pursuit

was to encourage the use of hand held mobile devices such as the iPad and iPod. Courses

offered by iTunes University are based on instructional design strategies and a new learning

framework known as the m-learning framework. The m-learning framework is described as a

personal, unobtrusive, spontaneous, anytime, anywhere way to learn and use education tools

and materials that offer increased access and education for all. Prestigious universities such as

Stanford have offered courses through iTunes University, other universities have followed or are

in the process of offering coursework through similar learning management systems. Today just

about every community college and university has added online courses and utilized a learning

management system, many high schools and even middle schools are now also employing this

technology. Within ten years an online learning management system will be in place with every

primary, secondary and postsecondary educational organization along with most businesses with

regional and global training needs.

Influence of Course Content

While there are many influences on the contents of courses the consumer is always the

first to consider. With a large number of working professionals today seeking higher education

this population has the largest influence on programs that are offered. Supply and demand is the

simplest explanation, online Masters Programs along with other types of professional training are

some of the most sought after online education programs today. Online remedial programs such
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as high school diploma programs and basic remedial skills also has a large influence on online

adult education programs. English as a second language, ESL, is another area that has a big

influence in online course offerings.

Educational administration is another area that can greatly influence course offerings and

content. Administration may see some cost saving advantages to online programs and also the

ability to enroll more students without having the need for additional facilities.

Business and industry also have great influence on career and technical education

programs, CTE, along with basic skills education such as math, science and English. Business

training needs change with new technologies that are constantly being revised and completely re-

invented in a very short time period. Industry needs the ability to offer courses that are relevant

to employment tasks that are in demand, online training and instructional design needs to cater to

these needs.

Development and Design of Adult Learning Programs

Instructional designers of online adult learning programs are in an ever constantly

changing position. New technologies are being introduced that in some case replace what was

considered the latest technology only a short time ago. New trends continue to emerge making it

essential for instructional designers to collaborate and share ideas on successes and failures of

program strategy implementation. According to a report on skills, challenges and trends in

instructional design conducted by the Association of Talent Development, ATD, new trends are

currently effecting the development of instructional design. These new trends are incorporating

storytelling, infographics and design content for use developing training programs for various

cultures, regions and virtual simulations. While new technology can enhance instructional design
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its important not to use technology just for the sake of using the technology, time proven

instructional methods are sometimes more effective today than the most current technology.

New instructional design programs need to be flexible to change with the needs of the

learners and the stakeholders that are supporting educational activities. Online education

programs involving adults must have a social learning collaboration element with the learners

and the teachers. What online education lacks is the face to face experiences of learners who are

learning from their fellow classmates and the interaction with the instructor. A social

collaboration portion is necessary for any such program. Teachers in most traditional on site

classes always encourage students to ask questions, if one student has a question on a topic there

are several others with the same question but afraid to ask in a large classroom environment. In

some ways online collaboration might help such students, in other ways they may just miss out

on the answer to the question asked by a fellow student. Online instructional design needs to be

able to incorporate such needs. These new trends and changes will require instructional

designers to constantly network with others in their field and evaluate the effectiveness of their

programs and others. Instructional design will need clearly stated student learning outcomes at

the start of each training program and an assessment of those learning outcomes following the

completion of any training program to determine its effectiveness. Students should be surveyed

at the completion of a course to determine course satisfaction and seek recommendations on

improving instruction. A continuous feedback loop should be part of all instructional design.
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References

Hexagon Metrology (2016). Hexagon Metrology U, online learning management system.

Retrieved from http://www.hexagonmetrologyu.com/

Berrett, D. (2016). Instructional design. The Chronicle of Higher Education, Retrieved from

http://search.proquest.com/docview/1770399112?accountid=458

Hung, W. T., Tang, Y., & Morris, B. (2016). Evaluation of iTunes university courses through

instructional design strategies and m-learning framework. Journal of Educational

Technology & Society, 19(1), 199-210. Retrieved from

http://search.proquest.com/docview/1768612663?accountid=458

Association for Talent Development (2015). Skills, Challenges and Trends in Instructional

Design. Retrieved from https://www.td.org/Publications/Research-Reports/2015