Dick & Carey

Dick & Carey Model Overview

In the 1970's, Walter Dick and Lou Carey created a learner-centered and outcome-focused learning design model. This model ensures that instructional materials are thoughtfully and strategically designed to meet specifically written learning objectives.

This model uses a more holistic approach than ADDIE.  Dick and Carey emphasizes interconnections among parts of the design process. Instead of working through each phase one at a time, this model treats the phases as being interdependent and should be thought of as parts of an integrated whole. This systemic model helps the design stay coherent, purposeful, and effective in achieving the intended outcomes. There are four essential components that drive the instructional design process:

• • Learning Context (Classroom Environment): The learning environment plays a role in shaping the instructional design. It factors in physical and virtual spaces of learning, and considers factors like available resources, technology, and classroom dynamics. Knowing the learning context helps designers tailor their strategies and materials.

• • Content/Subject Area: The subject matter or content being taught plays a critical role in instructional design. Different topics may require specific pedagogical approaches, resources, and instructional strategies. By considering content area's unique characteristics, instructional designers can check that instruction effectively teaches the intended knowledge or skills.

• • Learners' Behaviors: The Dick and Carey model operates on the philosophy that learners are not passive recipients but active participants in the learning process (objectivist/constructivist approach to learning). The model recognizes the importance of determining a learner's  prior knowledge, skills, motivations, and learning styles. This learner-centric approach ensures that instructional strategies are designed to engage and support learners effectively.

• • Instructional Strategies: The model prompts the designer to think about the instructional strategies that align with the learning context, content, and learners' behaviors such as content sequencing, media selection, assessment methods, and delivery modes. An instructional designer should choose strategies that facilitate effective learning experiences.

The model also recognizes and emphasizes the importance of analysis, which can be an extensive process with this particular model. 

The Dick and Carey instructional design model consists of ten steps:

• 1. Identify Instructional Goals

  2. Conduct Instructional Analysis

  3. Identify Entry Behaviors (analyze learners)

  4. Write Performance Objectives

  5. Develop Assessment Instruments

  6. Develop Instructional Strategies

  7. Develop and Select Instructional Materials

  8. Design and Conduct Formative Evaluation

  9. Revise Instruction

  10. Conduct Summative Evaluation

Implications in Corporate Training

The Dick and Carey model can be used to create adult training programs that address skill gaps, training needs, and meet objectives specific to a business. The extensive analysis phase helps identify performance discrepancies. It then provides a comprehensive framework for an instructional designer to develop precise learning objectives and design specific training materials. Because it is iterative, the model prompts for adjustments based on feedback and evolving business needs. It also helps designers create instructional strategies and materials that cater to different learning styles and abilities because of the intense analysis phase. It's particularly useful for compliance training, product training, and employee onboarding.

Opinions on the Strengths of the Dick and Carey Model

The systematic approach ensures that instructional materials are well-organized and focused on achieving specific learning outcomes as determined by the exhaustive analysis process. As a designer, this is particularly helpful because it means the model will help me create coherent courses and learning opportunities.  The model guides me to ensure instructional objectives, assessments, and materials are aligned which helps create effective, coherent learning experiences with clear connections to assessment. I can also obtain data from formative evaluations and make improvements to the instruction before final release. This allows for me to make continuous improvement and refinement of instructional materials. Because this model is flexible, I can design trainings centered around a variety of contexts and subjects. I can also adapt the model to suit the needs of different learners and instructional situations.

Opinions on the Limitations of the Dick and Carey Model

 The ten-step process is lengthy and requires a good amount of time and resources, including subject matter experts, technology, and assessment tools. Because this model starts with an extensive analysis process, I might have trouble focusing on the most important concepts and develop a tendency to put in too much content to address every knowledge gap. I have already seen this problem among designers in my company. I also wonder if the extensive analysis process is always needed. In my company, we design asynchronous professional development for PK-12 teachers across the United States (sometimes other countries too). I never quite know who is on the other side of the screen. Perhaps AI will become more flexible to adapt to the learner in real time, but our comapany doesn't have that capability yet. This means that we could end up with a ton of data out of an exhaustive analysis process but a lot of it may not be particularly useful for designing instruction.