Learning Activities and Instructional Design

As an instructional designer, I find it quite challenging at times to develop diverse learning activities. While it is tempting to stick to the usual ones, I aim to continuously explore learning activities to include in the instructional design materials I create. After all, IDs should always cater to what is beneficial for the learners. In this article, let us break down some of the factors I consider when developing learning materials for instructional design.

What are the Most Popular Instructional Design Methods?

ADDIE is a widely used instructional design model created in the 1970s. It is a five-step process, an acronym for analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation. This instructional design method has been around for a while and has proven effective in designing instruction.

The ADDIE model has been modified over the years, and some people believe it’s time to move on from this old way of thinking about instructional design methods. Instead of focusing on the five steps of ADDIE, people are now looking at task-based and problem-based learning as two different models for designing instruction.

Task-based learning, focuses on tasks as the primary unit of instruction and emphasizes learning activities similar to how learners will use what they have learned. This approach focuses on real-life scenarios that allow learners to use their learning to practical use. Problem-based learning is an instructional design method that uses problem-solving to help learners develop higher-order thinking skills and gain knowledge. It focuses on problems as an activity, which encourages learners to develop a deeper understanding of content and practice critical thinking skills.

How to Create Effective Learning Activities?

Instructional design is the process of designing instructional learning materials. It is a systematic, step-by-step process that considers what learners need to know and be able to do. Furthermore, it should include how best to impart this information. When creating practical learning activities, it is essential to consider the age, level of proficiency, and interests of the learners. A good ID should also consider the lesson’s objectives. This also include relevant content and activities that will engage students in meaningful learning.

For adult learners, it best to take into consideration their motivations for learning. Is this learning activity going to help them perform better in their daily tasks? Does this activity enhances their skills to address a challenge? Why would this adult learner want to learn and participate in this learning opportunity?

Learning activities are any activities you use in your lesson or training session to engage learners in the content. This is why proper training needs analysis or TNA should always be conducted before designing any instructional material. As instructional designers unravel the different facets of the challenges they need to address, they can develop more relevant and up-to-date learning solutions.

What are the Different Types of Learning Strategies for Different Learners?

In information processing theory, the learner is seen as a system that takes in information and processes it (Bouchrika, 2022). Different learning strategies are required to cater to varying types of learners.

Learners are grouped into different categories. Two of these categories are: visual learners and kinesthetic learners. Visual learners learn best by seeing the material, such as reading or watching a video. Graphs, charts, images, and diagrams help visual learners better understand the concepts. Kinesthetic learners, on the other hand, learn best by engaging with the material, such as through hands-on work or role-playing. This is why physical activities are essential when it comes to planning learning activities for kinesthetic learners.

Reference: Bouchrika. (2022, September 26). What is Information Processing Theory? Stages, Models & Limitations. Research.com. https://research.com/education/what-is-information-processing-theory

Conclusion: How Instructional Designers and Learning Activities

Whether you are using ADDIE, task-based, or problem-based learning in creating your materials, what is more, important is to develop a diversity of learning activities in instructional design. These activities should cater to your learners’ different learning needs and goals. Apart from the ones we have mentioned earlier, other learning activities can include gamification, microlearning, and more. The first step in developing any learning activity as an instructional designer should include needs analysis. This provides you with an overview of what the goals are and the types of learners who will be using the materials. The resources and required training facilitation skills should also be considered in designing any learning activity.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

What is instructional design?

Instructional design is the process of systematically developing instructional materials to facilitate effective learning experiences. It involves analyzing learner needs, designing learning objectives, creating learning activities, and evaluating the effectiveness of instruction.

What are the popular instructional design methods?

While the ADDIE model remains prevalent, there’s a growing emphasis on task-based and problem-based learning approaches. These methods focus on real-world tasks and problem-solving to engage learners and promote deeper understanding.

How do you create effective learning activities?

Effective learning activities consider learners’ age, proficiency level, interests, and motivations. They align with lesson objectives and engage learners in meaningful ways. Proper training needs analysis (TNA) is essential to tailor activities to learners’ needs.

What are the different types of learning strategies for different learners?

Learners have varied learning preferences, including visual and kinesthetic. Visual learners prefer visual aids like graphs and images, while kinesthetic learners learn best through hands-on activities. Effective instructional design caters to diverse learner needs.

Summary

In this article, we explored the role of learning activities in instructional design and considered various factors in their development:

• Instructional Design Methods: We discussed traditional approaches like the ADDIE model and newer methods like task-based and problem-based learning.
• Creating Effective Learning Activities: Effective activities are tailored to learners’ needs, interests, and motivations, aligning with lesson objectives. Training needs analysis (TNA) helps ensure activities are relevant and engaging.
• Different Learning Strategies: Learners have diverse preferences, such as visual and kinesthetic. Designing activities that accommodate these preferences enhances learning outcomes.
• Conclusion: Regardless of the instructional design method used, diversity in learning activities is crucial. Activities should address learners’ needs and goals, incorporating strategies like gamification and microlearning. Needs analysis guides activity development, considering resources and training facilitation skills.

By designing engaging and relevant learning activities, instructional designers can create impactful learning experiences that meet the needs of diverse learners.

How do you design your learning activities for your training programs? What are the different factors you consider when developing one? Share us your thoughts by leaving a comment below.