A Day in the Life of an
Instructional Designer

Introduction

Your Task

The Process

Evaluation

Conclusion

Resources

Full Web Quest

Teacher's Notes

The Forum

You are part of the new generation of instructional designers. You have many tools available to facilitate both teaching and learning. What are they? Which ones are better? These are only a few of the questions you will answer as you work through this task.

Phase 1:

Your job is to become an expert on the media available to instructional designers to facilitate learning.

First, define what we mean by media in an instructional context and explain why we use it. You can get a start with these web pages:

• Instructional Media: 1900-2000
• Using Instructional Media

Now, list ten media choices. For each, illustrate it's appropriate instructional use, it's benefits and possible challenges.

You may want to look at the resource links on some of the following web pages:

• Choosing An Instructional Medium
• Practical Guidelines for Selecting Media: An International Perspective
• Media Selection Matrix
• Media Selection Rationale for a Self-Instruction, Computer Based Program
• Instructional Media: The Internet Possibility
• Course Web Site Media Selection
• Media Selection and Design

There are many factors that need to be considered when selecting an appropriate media. Select five of those factors and discuss the relative importance of those factors to media selection in instructional design.

Phase 2:

Now that you are the resident expert in media selection, it’s time to take a look at the design philosophy your team will present to the Board. Look at the following web site:

• The ADDIE Model of Instructional Design

Are there any types or classes of media that are better utilized in the ADDIE model? Why or why not?

Will your company need to change it’s preference of media if they move to a new instructional design methodology?

Will they have more choices in media selection with the new design model?