Chapter 9

Developing Instructional Materials

CAROLYN JENKINS-HAIGLER

Background

The hallmark of individualized instruction is that many of theinstruction events typically carried out by the instructor with agroup of students are now presented to the individual studentthrough instructional materials. The authors recommend thatyou produce self-instructional materials in your first attemptat instructional design, that is, the materials should permit thestudent to learn the new information and skills without anyintervention 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 Delivery System and Media Selections

Availability of existing instructional materials.

o Existing materials could be substituted for planned materials on ascale ranging from a single motivational sequence in one lesson,to an entire course or curriculum.

Production and implementation constraints

o Media formats and delivery systems that look expensive areexpensive.

Amount of instructor facilitationo The first steps in adoption of a new technology are usually attempts to

replicate the features of the old technology classroom.

o When discussion and feedback are provided by the instructor, initialmaterials development costs are lower however, per-student costs arehigh and the course cannot be scaled up in size without hiringadditional instructors.

Components of an Instructional Package

Instructional Materials o contain the content -either written, mediated, or facilitated

by an instructor.

Assessment o Pretest and Posttest that have been planned to be

implemented. Course management information

o Instructors manual- how to use the instructional material, test, and so on.

Assessments

All instructional material should be accompanied by objective tests or by product or performance assessments. These may include a pretest and/or a posttest.

Course Management Information

There is often a general description of the total package, typically called the instructor’s

manual, which provides the instructor with an overview of the materials. It might include the

following: tests and other information considered important for implementing the

course. student guidance templates automated class listing student tracking online testing project monitoring grade book a variety of communication and messaging mechanisms

Special attention should be paid to the ease with which course management information can be

used by the instructor or course manager.

Instructional Materials

They contain the content – either written, mediated or facilitated by an instructor (the content includes materials for the major objectives, the terminal objective, and any materials for enhancing memory and transfer).

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

The materials may also include information that the learners will use to guide their progress through the instruction.

Selecting Existing Instructional Materials

Goal-centered

o congruence between the content in the materials and your terminal and performance objectives.

o adequacy of content coverage and completeness

o authority

o accuracy

o currency

o objectivity

Selecting Existing Instructional Materials Continued

Learner-centered appropriateness of if the existing materials for the target group

o Vocabulary and language

o developmental, motivation, and interest levels

o backgrounds and experiences

o special language or needs

Learning-centered appropriateness of the materials in terms of

instructional strategies

Context centered Appropriateness of the materials for the instructional and performance context

The Designer’s Role in Material Development and

Instructional Delivery The designer the materials developer the instructor

Individualized instruction Their role in instructional delivery is passive, but their role

As a facilitator is very active

Instructors select and adapt materials to suit their instructional strategy more increased role in delivering instruction

Heavily dependent on instructor

Designer the instructor

The best way is to meet with and learn from the developer

Designer should conduct the on-site learner and context analyses themselves

Developing Instructional Materials for Formative

Evaluation Rough draft materials

Rapid prototypes

o Go light on the early analysis steps of an instructional design model

o Develop prototype instructional materials rapidly

o Use quick interactive cycles of formative evaluation

o Revise to shape the final form of the materials.

o Simultaneous design and development

Material development tools and resources

Beginning the Development Process

Media production tends to be highly specialized for each different media delivery system. Seldom will you, as an instructional designer, be responsible for actual media production, with the possible exception of small, in-house projects. At the same time, you will be working with media production specialists, and it's a good idea to have a working knowledge of what it is they do, to facilitate communication and understand their problems and capabilities.

There is no substitute for hands-on experience in this area, and we encourage you to take advantage of course projects, internships, and other opportunities to obtain some of that firsthand knowledge. In the meantime, here are some brief descriptions of the major production processes and the people that carry them out.

Multimedia

Print

Video

Steps in the development of

InstructionCreating instructional materials is time consuming and, likely, costly. It's much

more effective to find existing materials that may be able to be adopted or amended to meet your needs.

If creating new materials is deemed necessary, a variety of tools can be used to help plan and carry out the development process.

Preproduction activities are implemented before materials are created, and often include identification and scheduling the tasks, specifying the treatment, establishing story boards, and writing scripts.

Although instructional designers may not be directly involved in development, familiarity with the steps facilitates communication with the people who have the specific skills required during production.

Prototyping and rapid prototyping have become embedded in the development process over the years. These processes allow the production crew to try out and verify the validity of ideas before committing time and funds to ideas that may require costly changes later.

STRATEGIES FOR DEVELOPINGCONTENT

When developing content, provide contextualizing elements (collaboration, role play, case studies)

that permit for multiple and varied perspectives. Contextualizing also helps link ideas to prior

knowledge. Learners bring experience that is unique to their cultural and ethnic backgrounds. In

addition, motivation and decision making should be built in to the materials being developed.

Develop the materials so that the instructor is not built into the process. This permits the greatest

flexibility and encourages the development of materials that are focused on learner needs. When

developing or modifying instructional materials for the interpersonal domain, the instructor should ask these questions:

1. What is my instructional strategy? This would include learner analysis, identification of goals & objectives, sequencing of events, delivery modes (i.e., self-paced, instructor-led, etc.) and assessment tools.

2. What budget do I have available? This would include not only the cost of developing or adapting existing materials, but the cost of maintaining the instructional materials over

Instructional Elements

Once you have a general plan in mind, you can begin developing and gathering the materials for your

instruction. Since you are developing instructional materials for the interpersonal domain, you should

look for materials that engage the learner in interpersonal activities. Instructional and assessment

activities should draw upon the following elements, depending upon the goals and objectives of the

course:

• peer-sharing

• group activities

• interpersonal interactions

• team games

• questionnaires, surveys, and activities which require gathering input from others

• cooperative learning

• leadership activities

• peer activities such as counseling and tutoring When selecting or creating instructional materials assess whether or not the content provides

Identifying Skills to Develop

When developing the content you should assess the skills that are likely to be

developed by using the instructional materials that you have created or selected.

The material should be designed to develop these skills, depending upon the goals and objectives:

• listening skills

• person-to-person communication

• giving and receiving feedback

• leadership

• teamwork and cooperation

• conflict resolution Now that you have learned some strategies for developing the content, we are going to look at some strategies for media selection.

Strategies for Selecting Media

When developing your instructional materials you will need to consider your media options. This section will provide you with some strategies to help you make the right choice for your needs.

TYPES BENEFITS CONSIDERATIONS

EXAMPLES

Simulations

Permits independence in learning process, contextualizes context, develop critical thinking

Can be expensive, feedback important to success

File:Diffusiom-sim-game.png Visit (Diffusion Simulation Game)

TrainingGames

Highly motivational, encourages teamwork, uses problem solving skills, develops communication skills

May require extensive preparation, flexibility important

File: Cash-game.png, Visit (Thiagi’s Training Games)

RolePlaying

Introduces real world situations, promotes understanding of other positions, emphasizes working together, provides opportunities to receive and give feedback

Difficult with large groups, can require extensive guidance to be effective

File: Role-play.png Visit (Effective & Ineffective Interpersonal Communication Role Play)

Interactive Highly motivational, engages Best with individuals or File: Mediation-flash-

Strategies for Selecting MediaContinued

TYPES BENEFITS CONSIDERATIONS

EXAMPLES

VIDEO

Great for large groups provides for safe observation can include real life situations can develop critical thinking

Technology requirements,difficult to adaptNeed discussion & practice opportunities

File:Interpersonal-lecture-sample.png Visit (Power on Non Verbal Communication)

WEBSITES

Many available resources multiple perspectives represented, can provide for silent reflection

Technology requirements quality varies greatly, requires self-motivation, need to provide interaction opportunities

File: Seven –challenges.png Visit (The Seven Challenges Workbook)

JOBAIDS

Provides for rapid instruction, inexpensive, can use with any group, provides opportunities for self-assessment

Good as a support tool, need practice opportunities to ensure transfer

File:Communication-job-aid.png Visit (Speak for Yourself)

Reference

Summary Translating your analysis and design opens opportunities to be creative with

the instruction.

Simply translating your analysis and strategies into prose can yield rather dry and boring

instruction. As a teacher and instructional designer, you need to consider ways to add interesting

and motivating approaches to the instruction. For example, consider the various introductions to

the units used in this course. We have used a variety of styles and approaches to make the units

interesting and appealing to the students. Making good instruction is part science and part art,

the trick is finding the right mix to challenge and engage your students.

THE End

Carolyn Jenkins-

Haigler