MEd program students must complete MDDE601 & MDDE602 prior to all other courses.
Early access to the Moodle Learning Management System begins a few days before the official start date of your course. At that time you will have limited course access.
Availability: Normally, Fall Term Only
Overview
MDDE 619 Trends and Issues in Instructional Design examines recent developments relating to the professional practice of instructional design (ID). Beginning with a historical overview of the field, its practices and its models, we will examine published ID competencies and reflect on how they match current ID job descriptions. Consultations with practicing instructional designers for multiple perspectives on these questions are included. A consideration of the role of instructional designer as change agent in educational contexts leads us to also explore the connection of ID to allied professions in instructional technology and educational development. The course is grounded in the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and we examine the application of UDL to design in the distance education context. The course concludes with a discussion about the future of instructional design.
Outline
The course consists of four units:
Unit 1: Foundations: Definitions and History of Instructional Design, Instructional Technology and Universal Design for Learning
Unit 2: The Professional Practice of Instructional Design
Unit 3: Instructional Design Models and Approaches – Multiple Viewpoints
Unit 4: The Future of Instructional Design
Learning outcomes
Synthesize a variety of instructional design theories and frameworks
Differentiate common criticisms and controversy related to the use of established and alternative instructional design models
Evaluate appropriate instructional frameworks for particular instructional design contexts
Apply Universal Design for Learning principles in the evaluation of supportive learning environments in distance education applications
Design a personal instructional design philosophy statement that establishes professional, ethical approaches in a distance education context
Critically analyze future trends in instructional design
Evaluation
Your final course mark will be based on three assignments and course participation.
Activity
Weight
Assignment 1: Write a short paper describing how an instructional design job advertisement, written position description, or reported daily requirements of a practicing instructional designer compares with published instructional design competencies. Conclude the paper with a revised position description.
20%
Assignment 2 : Write a short paper discussing the application of Universal Design for Learning principles and other accessibility issues associated with the design and delivery of distance learning materials. Assess an Athabasca University course or program (or other course with which you are familiar) to illustrate the application of these principles.
20%
In Assignment 3: Create a Learning Journal that critically reflects on each unit in the course, responds to the changing perspectives about the field and evaluates appropriate instructional design models for your particular context. Design a personal ID philosophy statement that articulates your personal professional and ethical approaches in a distance education context.
40%
Course Participation: Active engagement in discussions and forums.
20%
Total
100%
Note: details of assignments are posted online in the course.
Materials
Reiser, R. A. & Dempsey, J. V. (2018). Trends and issues in instructional design and technology. Pearson Education. (eText)
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized study counterparts.