In my current position as a Training Administrator for a larger, private university, I do more curriculum development than actual training administration. Along the way, I’ve learned quite a bit about instructional design. I’m by no means an expert, but I find this subject extremely stimulating and I hope to apply some of what I’m learning on the job to the Gearbox project.

Wikipedia defines instructional design (ID):

The practice of maximizing the effectiveness, efficiency and appeal of instruction and other learning experiences. The process consists broadly of determining the current state and needs of the learner, defining the end goal of instruction, and creating some “intervention” to assist in the transition. (link)

In English, please.
Instructional design is the process of designing the instruction for maximum effectiveness. If you’ve ever sat through a presentation where some dullard stood in front of the group and straight read to you (“Death by PowerPoint), you’ve had a taste of why instructional design is so important. ID is all about understanding the audience. It’s about knowing what you want to achieve, defining those results, and designing the training/instruction/presentation with those objectives in mind.

The ADDIE Model:

Analyze - consider the audience and the desired outcomes
Design – define specific, measurable outcomes
Develop – develop the methodology to achieve the outcomes
Implement – pull the trigger, put it into practice
Evaluate – compare results with desired outcomes

Common sense, right?
I mean, when I first started learning about ADDIE, it struck me right away that we all probably follow this model on some level every day.

Analyze - I’m hungry.
Design - I need to get lunch.
Develop - I’m going to Del Taco.
Implement - Go to Del Taco, order burritos, eat them.
Evaluate - Am I still hungry? (Was Del Taco a good idea?)

We use ADDIE every day.
In the broadest sense, ADDIE is a structured way of asking, “What’s the difference between where I am now and where I want to be in the future? How do I get there from here?” And, after heading down any path to that end, “Am I still on track? Am I where I wanted to go?”

Why am I writing about ADDIE?
Two reasons. One, I discovered long ago that, as much as I enjoy modifying cars, I enjoy modifying the car community more. Instructional design and the ADDIE model provide a structured way for me to consider where the global automotive community stands today, where I’d like to see it in the future, and figure out how to get there.

Two, I don’t think I’ve put nearly enough thought into what Gearbox Magazine stands for. I’ve got an idea, and I’m, personally, starting to realize the sort of benefits I hope readers will get once this thing reaches critical mass, but I’m so excited about this project and what it represents, I’m all over the map. I’m running on pure passion and I need to pause for some reflection, to figure out which direction I’m headed, and then lay in a course.

What’s next?
ADDIE is a cyclical process. After we evaluate the results of our efforts, we go right back to analyze. Where are we – now – in relation to where we want to go? Gearbox is pushing a year old. Seriously! The Mitsu site has been up for nine months now. Between this post and October, I’m going to run Gearbox through the ADDIE model and see what happens. I can’t remember the last time I was this excited about blogging.

Up next: Analysis. Might be one post, might be a series of posts. I haven’t got there yet. Hope you’re along for the ride.

In the glovebox:

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