Developing Instructional Materials

PRESENTED BY JAMES HENDERSON

Background

In a typical classroom setting the instructor plans and performs functional activities that we describe as being components of an instructional strategy. The instructor is often the motivator, the content presenter, the ledger of practice activities, and the evaluator. The hallmark of individualized instruction is that many of the instruction events typically carried out by the instructor with a group of students are now presented to the individual student through instructional materials. The authors recommend that you produce self-instructional materials in your first attempt at instructional design, that is, the materials should permit the student to learn the new information and skills without any intervention from an instructor or fellow students.

Objectives Describe factors that may cause revisions in media selections and delivery systems for given

instruction. Name and describe the components of an instructional package. List four categories of criteria for judging the appropriateness of existing instructional materials. Describe the designer’s role in materials development and instructional delivery. Name appropriate rough draft materials for various final media. Given an instructional strategy, describe the procedures for developing instructional materials. Develop instructional material based on a given instructional strategy.

The Designer’s Role in Material Development and Instructional Delivery

When the Designer is Also the Materials Developer and the Instructor The instructional setting usually creates a one stop shop where the

designer is also the developer and teacher of the instruction. An example of this the teacher or professor that do the lesson plans,

syllabi, materials and instruction and professionals in all fields routinely design, develop, and present their own workshops and in-service training.

Take out different teaching responsibilities based on the types of material that were prescribed in the instructional strategy.

The Designer’s Role in Materials Development• When the Designer is Not the Instructor.• Large companies sometimes utilize an instructional designer that works

with a team to do the design, development and implementation. • Teams exist in instructional design consulting firms, personnel training and

development companies.

There are three factors that often compromise the selections: 1. Availability of existing instructional materials 2. Productions and implementation constraints 3. Amount of facilitation that the instructor will provide during instruction

THE DELIVERY SYSTEM AND MEDIA SECTION

The Delivery System and Media Selections

Availability of Existing Instructional Materials Existing materials can be an alternative to the developing and producing new materials. They also be substituted for planned materials.

An example would be pre-recorded workshop on workplace bullying that can be copied and distributed.

Production and Implementation Constraints Media formats and delivery systems can be very expensive, but utilizing techniques to reduce costs general does not affect learning. Costs associated with duplication and distribution can be costly as well. However, there are methods of such as PowerPoint or web streaming that can defray some of the costs.

New delivery systems are attempting to recreate the face to face instruction experience in a method that only requires instructor facilitation

An example would the growing use of Blackboard in college and university settings.

Amount of Instructor Facilitation

Components of an Instruction Package

• Instructional Materials

• Assessment

• Course Management Information

Instructional Materials

• Must contain content that a student will use to achieve the objectives• Included major objectives and terminal

objectives• Instructional materials refer to any

preexisting materials that are being incorporated , as well as to those materials that will be specifically developed for the objectives.

Assessments• Materials should be accompanied by

objectives tests or by product or performance assessments• Pretest & Posttest

Course Management Information

• A general description of the total package, typically called an instructor’s manual, that provides an overview of the materials and shows how they might be incorporated in an overall learning sequence.• Might also include tests and other

information that you judge to be important

Existing Instructional Materials

5 Categories of Criteria

1. Goal-Centered2. Learner-Centered3. Learning-Centered4. Context-Centered5. Technical-Centered

Instructional Materials and Formative Evaluation Rough Draft Materials

Rapid Prototyping

Materials Development Tools and Resources

Rough Draft Development Material production requires

a skill set. Tools and resources are used to provide instruction such as how-to guides, etc.

This media is updated rather frequently to included new developments that make the instructions easier as the technology advances.

Rapid Prototyping The thought of “doing it several times” for the sake of formative evaluation is daunting, but this is exactly what happens in an instructional materials development.

Materials Developments Tools and Resources Material production requires a

skill set. Tools and resources are used to provide instruction such as how-to guides, etc.

This media is updated rather frequently to included new developments that make the instructions easier as the technology advances.

Life Long Learner I know first hand how difficult it can be to development instructional materials. You have to take into consideration how you are going to development, production and execute the deliverance of the content

James HendersonJames.henderson178@gmail.com