Design Definition

Design is the systematic method of research, planning, developing, evaluating and managing an instructional process. All of the individual components are incorporated into the method termed instructional design. According to Kemp (1999, p. 8) the design process must be both systematic and specific. Systematic means an orderly, logical method of identifying, developing and evaluating a set of strategies aimed at attaining a particular instructional goal. Specific means each element of the plan must be applied with attention to precise details. By applying systematic procedures and being attentive to specific details, one can design effective instruction.

Gagne (1992, p. 21) stresses that all models of instructional design have three common functions: (1) identifying the outcomes of the instruction, (2) developing the instruction, and (3) evaluating the effectiveness of the instruction. He also emphasizes that instructional systems design is the systematic process of planning instructional systems.

The design phase of the ADDIE model offers five considerations: 

(1) what are your objectives, 

(2) what skills, knowledge and attitudes are you trying to develop, 

(3) what resources and strategies will you use in your instruction, 

(4) how will you structure the content of your learning material, and 

(5) how will you assess the learner's understanding and whether or not they have met the objectives of the instruction.

Hannafin and Peck (1988, p. 61) say that the first step of design is to determine the sequence in which the objective will be met. After the sequence has been determined, a solution for each objective identified during the analysis phase is selected. The objectives, solutions, and descriptions of activities are then transferred to storyboards.

Smith and Ragan (1999, p. 2) define instructional design as the systematic and reflective process of translating principles of learning and instruction into plans for instructional materials, activities, information resources, and evaluation