Comparison of

Instructional Design Models

The ADDIE instructional design model is a popular, easy model to use for designing instruction. The steps include (1) Analysis stage: analyzing the instructional needs and setting goals; (2) Design stage: designing the steps to achieve the goals, writing objectives for what should be taught, designing strategies and developing assessments; (3) Development stage: selecting and integrating media and technologies; producing materials, and evaluating samples of materials; (4) Implementation stage: revising and producing final materials; delivering final materials to learners; and (5) Evaluation stage: evaluate the success of the participant in obtaining understanding and skills; and evaluate the instructional design package.

Another popular instructional design model is the Dick and Carey Model. This model is similar to ADDIE but is more detailed. It follows a systems approach to designing instruction. The steps include (1) Instructional goals: analyzing the instructional needs and setting goals; (2) Instructional analysis: determine the skills involved in reaching a goal; create a list of steps and skills used in each step of the procedure; analyze the mental operations that are needed to learn a complex skill; analyze objectives that involve intellectual skills; (3) Entry behaviors and learner characteristics: determine skills and intellect the learners bring to the task; verbal comprehension and spatial orientation as well as personality; (4) Performance objectives: create specific and detailed objectives; determine that instruction is related to its goals, that lesson planning is appropriate with conditions of learning, and assisting learners in their efforts; (5) Criterion-Referenced test items: diagnose necessary prerequisites for learning new skills; check the results of student learning; create a document of student progress; evaluate the instructional system; and determine performance measures; (6) Instructional strategy: outline how instructional activities relate to the objectives; demonstrate knowledge about the learners, tasks reflected in the objectives and effectiveness of teaching strategies; (7) Instructional materials: select appropriate media for instructions; use existing materials, if possible; develop new materials, if needed; and choose delivery system; (8) Formative evaluation: provide data for revising and improving instructional materials; and revise instruction; (9) Summative evaluation: study the effectiveness of the system as a whole.

The Gerlach and Ely Model takes on a systematic approach to teaching and learning. It emphasizes the identification of content and objectives prior to assessing any student behaviors. The design and development of instruction is completed together in an ongoing process. The steps are: (1-2) Specification of content and objectives simultaneously; (3) Assessing the learner’s entering behaviors; this can be done with a pretest; (4-8) Determination of strategy, organization of groups, allocation of time and space; and the selection of resources; (9) Evaluation of performance; (10) Analysis of feedback.

The Kemp model is comprised of the following steps: (1) Identify instruction problems; (2) Examine learner characteristics; (3) Identify subject content and analyze components related to goals; (4) State instructional objectives to the learner; (5) Sequence content for logical learning; (6) Design strategies so the learner can master objectives; (7) Plan the instructional delivery; (8) Develop evaluation instruments; and (9) Select resources.

This model is considered to be holistic. The environment is considered in the development of instruction and revision can take place anytime.

I like the ADDIE model because of the simplicity of the steps. When I work on a new unit of instruction, I find that I’m implementing the steps in this model. I don’t want too many details and like the flexibility to change items as instruction takes place. The Dick and Carey Model is too detailed but should work well in a business environment. The Gerlach and Ely model is also too detailed and too time consuming for my purposes. I like the flexibility of revision in the Kemp model but again, it has too many steps.