Vanessa Roberts

EDUC 765: Trends and Issues in Instructional Design

6/23/2015
The true value of well-designed instruction has been clearly
demonstrated throughout the course, Trends and Issues in Instructional
Design, as I am astounded at the amount of knowledge that I have
gained in a very brief timeframe. Module 5, which covered
Instructional Objectives, is a fantastic example of this learning. At the
onset of the model, I had absolutely no idea what a learning objective
was. After hours of research and closely following the discussion
board, my first attempt at writing a TO was unsuccessful and I went
back to the drawing board. Attempt two was better, and some input
from a classmate and Dr. Kay prompted an ah ha moment. By the
end of the module I had a clear understanding of Learning Objectives,
their significance in the design process, and how to write them.
Working on the Course Design Document as we progressed though the
course truly helped to focus what would otherwise be an overwhelming
project into manageable chunks. Initial selection of a project was
difficult, and although my course my not have much of a use in a
professional setting, working on it though the CDD has been an
astonishing learning experience, taking me through every step of the
process of early course development.
Kellers motivational theory was an obvious choice for this course, as
learner motivation is low and his ARCS design strategy provides a welldefined model for creating learner motivation. I actually spent quite a
bit of time researching this theory and feel it could be used in many
different instructional settings. Learner motivation, it would seem, is
not given nearly enough consideration in traditional educational
settings.
The learning theory module of this course was of particular interest to
me. I had dabbled in behaviorism and cognitivism in my
undergraduate work on a sociology minor, and having them resurface
here was a fun surprise, as this is a subject I enjoy studying.
Combining components of one or two (or more) learning theories to
suite the project appeared the best approach. Multiple Intelligence and
Brain Based Learning were of particular interest to me. It seems that
components of these theories and those similar to them can be taken
into consideration every instructional setting.
For my project, I chose two of the better-known learning theories,
Social Learning Theory and Behaviorism. Behaviorism is often

dismissed, as more contemporary learning theories have come into

popularity, but the basic idea that behavior is strongly influenced by
stimuli can be a very powerful instructional tool, especially when
attempting to motivate learners. Social learning theory also seemed to
fit this particular project very well, as it combines the strictly
reward/punishment approach of behaviorism and the psychological
factors of cognitivism. The four requirements for learning outlined in
the theory (Observation, retention, reproduction, and motivation) are
well suited for teaching a physical task, where demonstration and
application are important components of instruction and assessment.
These two theories are very fitting for instruction of children, who
comprise half of the learners for this project, as children do most of
their learning though observation and modeling and respond very well
to rewards and positive reinforcement.
I enrolled in the Instructional Design program with an extremely basic
understanding of the field. I had been searching for a program that
was completely online and would provide me with a clear skill set that I
could use to begin a career, and this program fit the bill. Initially I was
intimidated, my colleagues had a great deal more professional
experience then I. As the first course progressed, it became obvious
that this field is well suited to my particular areas of interest. I truly
enjoy research and analysis, and developing an ePortfolio was quite an
enjoyable project! At the end of this first course, I have a newfound
confidence, and I now feel well versed in the concepts of Instructional
Design. As I progress though the program and my career, I look
forward to working on and learning more about task and goal analyses,
delving deeper into motivational theories and there application and
expanding my ability to write clear, concise learning objectives.

References
PsychologyToday.(n.d.).RetrievedJune23,2015,fromhttps://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/social
learningtheory