Instructional Designers and Software Architects

1. Instructional Designers and Software Architects Are Instructional Designers Software Architects in Disguise? Michael Lang

2. Software Architect Software Designer System Architect System Designer Project Manager Instructional Designer Instructional Technologist Learning Specialist Curriculum Developer Project Manager What are they called, again?

3. Software Architect identifying requirements/needs drafting deliverable specifications designing the system’s layout/blueprint and development approach verifying the specification reporting the verification results reporting the results of feasibility studies Instructional Designer working with a client working with a subject matter expert (SME) analysis of client needs, tools available, and end users envisioning, developing, and creating the solution’s design evaluation and verification of the design working with other members in a team to bring about the design Roles and Responsibilities

4. Instructional Designers vs.Software Architects Instructional Designers • “With a good understanding of the client’s needs and the content, an instructional designer will develop a blueprint to be executed by other team members, such as programmers, artists, and video/audio specialists” (Liu et al, 2002). Software Architects • “Architects are seen as people who spend the lion’s share of their time up front: listening to clients, understanding the totality of their needs and resources, scrutinizing feasibility, forming a practical vision of a structure, and creating a blueprint” (Wiley, 2003, p. 72).

5. ADDIE Analysis Design Development Implementation Evaluation ADDIE vs. Waterfall Waterfall • Requirements Analysis • System Design • Implementation • System Testing • Operation and Maintenance

6. Graphical Views of Waterfall and ADDIE Models Waterfall ADDIE

7. Boehm Spiral Model – a Shared Generic Model

8. ADDIE Refactored

9. Rapid Application Development • In RAD, a prototype of the product is quickly created, tested for usability, and then revised. • Traditional design models invest a great deal of time on analysis and design prior to any product prototyping

10. Rapid Application Development vs. Instructional System Design

11. RAD: Can it work in IDT? • 2003 study by Lohr, Javeri, Mahoney, Gall, Li, and Strongin examined the use of Rapid Application Development (RAD) methodologies in an Instructional Setting. • Because RAD is just that, rapid, it brings with it a set of dynamics that most academic settings do not usually confront. • The lead designer for this study had previously been through RAD processes numerous times, albeit in corporate settings.

12. RAD: Can it work in IDT? • The researchers in this study were initially reticent about its usefulness in an academic setting. • This study showed that RAD can be applied to an academic arena quite effectively!

13. Software Development • Not mature, but neither is Instructional Design • Fully aware of issues surrounding: • software development • software usability • systems architecting • social behaviorism as it applies to designing and developing software • Full time effort focused on these issues

14. Suggestions for Instructional Designers • Less focus on modeling design/development effort • Reduce isolation of the field’s studies: • Take advantage of current computer science research • Participate in large bodies such as IEEE that currently have potential to shape our field • Focus on instructional designs and learning theories; areas we excel at

15. Are We Software Architects in Disguise? If building architects can specialize into various areas (commercial, residential, steel, concrete, lumber, etc.), then… Why can’t instructional designers be a highly specialized area of software architects?