Better Learning Design

Rapid Instructional Design

Ball of yarn

Rapid instructional design is like a ball of yarn – it’s flexible, adaptable, and can go in any direction to meet specific instructional needs. It’s not about replacing traditional models like ADDIE, but offering a fresh perspective. With rapid instructional design, designers can choose the best tools and strategies to create custom solutions quickly. It’s all about recognizing that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work, and sometimes you need a bit of creativity and adaptability to make learning experiences truly effective.

How can we use the ADDIE model for a quick and rapidly adaptable learning solution?

ADDIE modified

Analysis Phase

Regardless of the specific situation, each project will always have an analysis phase. We will always plan our project according to the problem or leaning gap, the solution we have in mind, and the audience who we want to benefit from the solution. No matter what the situation is, we will always need to understand the problem.

Design, Development, and Implementation Phases

Here is where we can save time and adapt the process! When looking to speed up the design process, using authoring tools can be incredibly helpful. Some popular options include Adobe Captivate, Articulate Storyline, and even PowerPoint. Additionally, there are many online-based services like Prezi available to create fast and adaptable resources.

It’s important to have constant access to subject matter experts (SMEs) or other experts, such as graphic designers or program managers, who can support and sign off on each development stage right away.

Rolling out the project in sections, without waiting for the entire course to be completed, can also be beneficial. This way, the first part(s) of a course can be available while designers continue to work on the later sections. Another useful strategy is to reuse content in different parts of the training, and to limit interactions and graphics by using stock graphics instead of designing your own. Additionally, it can be helpful to limit instructional strategies, focusing more on constructivist knowledge creation and cleaning up later.

Stages and Implications for Instructional Design

While the process focuses on flexibility and dynamism, there are still key components that allow for a quick production process:

  1. Analysis: The designer needs to understand the learning needs and goals.
  2. Design and Planning: Designers create a high-level design plan that prioritizes learner engagement and meaningful interactions, focusing on simplicity and alignment with learning objectives, while determining content format, delivery methods, and assessment strategies.
  3. Content Creation: The focus is on speedy content creation using existing materials like graphics, course components, videos, etc.
  4. Testing: Simple prototypes are used to generate feedback from users.
  5. Deployment: Learning materials are deployed as soon as they are available, generating immediate feedback that in turn serves the foundation for future iterations of the materials.
  6. Evaluation: Continuous feedback and insights about learner performance serve as the basis for evaluating the success of the learning materials. They also inform maintenance and updates.

Strengths and Limitations

Rapid instructional design offers several key strengths that align well with the fast-paced, evolving nature of modern education and training. Here are the main advantages:

Strengths
Limitations