Educational Design
What It Looks Like
The Standards for ASHA CE Providers is a document that references “educational design” to include many aspects of course design and delivery. This resource will refer to the more commonly known term—instructional design—which is a field focused on using learning theories to create, develop, and deliver courses that help learners achieve their goals. Some organizations employ full-time instructional designers, whereas others work with consultants. In some cases, staff members develop these skills on their own through self-study and hands-on experience.
There are many instructional design models. Organizations may choose to combine aspects of different models to suit their needs. A commonly used one is the ADDIE model.
ADDIE is an acronym for the five design stages:
- Analyze: Identify learners and their needs, and establish clear learning outcomes.
- Design: Determine the methods, activities, and strategies that support the learning outcomes.
- Develop: Create content.
- Implement: Deliver content.
- Evaluate: Measure success through feedback from stakeholders—including course planners, instructors, and learners.
When It Happens
As the ADDIE model describes, instructional design occurs throughout course planning, development, and implementation. The “design” step is where continuing education personnel determine instructional strategies, exercises, media, and other aspects of how the course will be structured and presented. At this point, course planners and instructors should determine how best to engage learners, address accessibility, and support adult learning. The resources included below address instructional design, adult learning, and learner engagement and offer presentation tips.
How It Supports Compliance
Standard 5 addresses the quality of educational design in continuing education. To comply with this standard, Providers must ensure that the educational design meets all of the following criteria:
- The educational design is determined by those with knowledge, skills, and experience in developing and delivering continuing education (5.1.1).
- The educational design facilitates translation of new knowledge, skills, and competencies into practice; supports thoughtful reflection; and fosters a culture of learning (5.2.2).
- Educational formats and techniques used are appropriate for the intended goals and outcomes of the course (5.3.1).
- The educational design considers learners’ strengths and needs and is learner-centered, engaging, and inclusive (5.3.2).
For more information on ways to comply with Standard 5.3.2, please see the Accessibility and Inclusivity Guidelines.
Why It Matters
Effective instructional design is essential because it directly impacts how learners acquire and apply new knowledge and skills. A well-designed course incorporates multiple learning techniques, making learning more engaging and accessible. It also ensures that courses are adaptable to accommodate learners with varying needs, thereby promoting inclusivity and participation.
High standards in instructional design are vital for providing continuing education that is impactful, practical, and inclusive, thus meeting the evolving needs of learners and professional development standards. (Standard 5)
Resources
The following ASHA resources may help you in your planning:
- ASHA Presentations
- External Resources
- Best Practices to Text Readability for Optimal UX
- Instructional Design Resources from the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
- Learning Guild
- Scientific Presenting Using Evidence-Based Classroom Practices to Deliver Effective Conference Presentations
- Tips for Presenters from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education
- Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Guidelines
Bottom Line
Even the best content will fail to resonate if it’s not delivered in an engaging and accessible manner. There are many approaches to effective instructional design: By involving experienced instructional designers, you can improve the quality of your courses—and increase learner satisfaction.
