How do you streamline your instructional design projects?

1 Define your goals and scope

Before you start any instructional design project, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and how you will measure it. What are the learning objectives, outcomes, and assessments for your course? Who are your target audience, stakeholders, and sponsors? What are the constraints, risks, and assumptions for your project? By defining your goals and scope upfront, you can avoid scope creep, align your expectations with your clients, and focus on the essential elements of your course.

2 Use an instructional design model

An instructional design model is a framework that guides you through the process of creating a learning solution. There are many models to choose from, such as ADDIE, SAM, AGILE, or Gagne's Nine Events of Instruction. Each model has its own advantages and disadvantages, depending on your context, needs, and preferences. By using an instructional design model, you can follow a systematic and consistent approach, break down your project into manageable phases, and ensure that your course meets the learning objectives and standards.

3 Apply instructional design principles

Instructional design principles are the best practices and guidelines that inform your design decisions and strategies. They are based on learning theories, research, and experience. Some of the common instructional design principles are: aligning your content, activities, and assessments with your learning objectives; chunking your information into meaningful and manageable units; using multimedia and interactivity to enhance learning; providing feedback and reinforcement; and appealing to different learning styles and preferences. By applying instructional design principles, you can create courses that are relevant, engaging, and effective for your learners.

5 Collaborate and communicate

Instructional design projects often involve working with other people, such as subject matter experts, clients, reviewers, or developers. To streamline your projects, you need to collaborate and communicate effectively with them. You can use tools such as project management software, online platforms, or cloud storage to share your files, track your progress, and get feedback. You can also use techniques such as agile methods, rapid prototyping, or iterative design to involve your stakeholders early and often, and to make changes quickly and flexibly. By collaborating and communicating well, you can improve your relationships, avoid misunderstandings, and deliver your projects on time and on budget.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?