About

What is Instructional Design and Technology?

Definition:

Instructional Design and Technology a field of study that involves the systematic application of learning theories, instructional design models, research, and multimedia technologies to design, develop, and implement instructional experiences. The goal is to create effective, engaging, and inclusive learning environments across educational and professional contexts.

History Timeline:

World War II (1939 - 1945): The U.S. military's need for effective training materials led to collaboration between educators and psychologists on systematic approaches to instructional development.
Systems Approach (1940s): The large-scale efforts during and after World War II laid the foundation for the systems approach to instructional design.
Programmed Instruction (1950s): The mid-1950s movement emphasized structured, sequential learning, advancing instructional design methods.
Bloom's Taxonomy (1956): A framework created for categorizing learning objectives, allowing educators to target and measure cognitive, emotional, and psychomotor results.
Criterion-Referenced Testing (1960s): Instead of comparing evaluations, assessments are focused on evaluating student performance against set standards.
Overall Impact: These early milestones defined instructional design as a discipline that focuses on rigorous, evidence-based approaches to learning improvement.

Source: Reiser,R., & Dempsey, J.V. (2024). Trends and issues in instructional design and technology (5th eds.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson

Key Scholars:

Robert Gagné

Robert Gagné is known for his Nine Events of Instruction, a foundational model that introduced one of the first systematic approaches to aligning instructional strategies with specific learning outcomes.

B.F. Skinner

B.F. Skinner is a pioneer of the learning theory, behaviorism. He introduced programmed instruction and reinforcement-based learning, shaping early computer-based training and the use of objectives and feedback in instructional design.

Benjamin Bloom

Benjamin Bloom developed Bloom’s Taxonomy, a widely used framework that categorizes learning objectives by cognitive complexity to guide the design of curriculum, assessments, and learning outcomes.

Sources:

https://educationlibrary.org/gagnes-nine-events-of-instruction/
https://psychology.fas.harvard.edu/people/b-f-skinner
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Figure-13-Benjamin-Samuel-Bloom-February-21-1913-September-13-1999-an-American_fig4_368317357
Reiser,R., & Dempsey, J.V. (2024). Trends and issues in instructional design and technology (5th eds.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson

Trends:

Artificial Intelligence

According to Reiser and Dempsey (2024), artificial intelligence is an emerging trend in instructional design that personalizes learning, automates instructional processes, and supports data-driven decision-making. It is being used by many individuals and organizations. According to the California State University Chancellor, Mildred Garcia, CSU became the nation’s first and largest AI-powered public university system to serve its entire community of students, staff, and faculty across 23 campuses. This milestone shows how artificial intelligence is growing at a rapid rate to improve educational opportunities.

Augmented Reality

According to Reiser and Dempsey (2024), augmented reality is a trend in instructional design that enhances learning by overlaying digital content onto the real world, creating interactive and immersive educational experiences.