Advanced Instructional Design Models - What have I've Learned so Far!

Well, it is Midterm and time to reflect on what I have learned in advanced instructional design over the past five weeks. One of the first takeaways is that there are many instructional design models. Some were familiar with and knew about and others I knew nothing of. The models I was already familiar with were the Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation and Evaluation (ADDIE), Dick and Carey, Rapid e-Learning solution, Kirkpatrick Four Levels Training Evaluation, Problem-based learning, Project-based learning, Instructional Systems Development (ISD), Bloom's Taxonomy, Understand by Design (UbD) and Adaptive Learning. Most of these I learn through the Master's program, Instructional Design seminars and workshops and the Microsoft Certified Trainer's North American Summit. The models such as Team-based learning, Situated learning, Theory of Psychosocial Development, Inquiry learning, Community of Inquiry, Assure, and Activity Theory Learning Framework were all new to me, and I learned about them from the peer review presentations. There are many instructional design models to research as a topic of inquiry.

The second takeaway was researching and exploring the Kirkpatrick Four Levels model. The model was intriguing to research and was first introduced to me through the Microsoft Certified Trainer program, but I never took deeper dives into the model. After the desk-based research on the Kirkpatrick Four Levels model in the LTEC 6020 course, it became more intriguing how the model is utilized worldwide for sixty years. Most industries utilized it in evaluating training programs and instructional designs. The medical industry seems to use it extensively, from clinical nursing training and nursing academic writing workshops to physician's training workshops. Many medical journal articles about applying the Kirkpatrick Four Levels model evaluation process.

Another takeaway was learning about validating the instructional design process and ensuring adequate testing and verification that the model does what it says it will do. Investigating or doing a critical analysis of the medical industry evaluation and validation processes applying the Kirkpatrick Four Levels would possibly make a topic of inquiry. First, I would need to thoroughly check what research was completed in that area. There are tons of case studies and evaluations, but not sure if any of those studies have gone through validation testing. Reflecting on the instructional design models and what I learned, there is little visibility about rapid solution models. The rapid solution instructional design model may be a topic of inquiry for research.