Prologue

Abstract

ADDIE is an acronym for Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, and Evaluate. ADDIE is a product development paradigm and not a model per se. The ADDIE concept is being applied here for intentional learning environments. The application of ADDIE to instructional systems design facilitates the complexities of intentional learning environments by responding to multiple situations, interactions within context, and interactions between contexts. Yet, the fundamental ADDIE components remain the same throughout various applications and variations of the ADDIE paradigm depend on the context in which ADDIE is being applied. Instructional design centers on individual learning, has immediate and long-range phases, is systematic, and uses a systems approach about knowledge and human learning. Effective instructional design focuses on performing authentic tasks, complex knowledge, and genuine problems. Thus, effective instructional design promotes high fidelity between learning environments and actual work settings. However, instruction should be considered as a potential intervention, only when a lack of knowledge and skills has been validated as the main cause for a performance gap. Thus, ADDIE can be applied when instruction is an appropriate response to a performance discrepancy. Clients and other primary stakeholders should be considered as people for whom you are providing a service. Subject matter experts and other content specialists should be regarded as cooperating partners of the design and development team. The simplicity of the ADDIE concept combined with multiple prompts for inclusiveness continues to prove its effectiveness. The remainder of the book presents detailed concepts and procedures related to ADDIE as applied to the systematic design of instruction.