The more I learn about instructional design the more I am able to see how it’s evolution is something that will never be fully complete. As we learn and discover new ways that content can be delivered (while materials are constantly changing as well) it gives the opportunity to look at other ways that the instruction can be designed.

Reading the description of the ADDIE (Analyse, Design, Develop, Implement, Evaluate) by Bates I found myself thinking of how this compares to the different types of project management styles.

In my view, the ADDIE model feels very similar to the waterfall method of project management. It often works very well and is traditionally the method of choice for projects. The issue with waterfall is that you are following a very prescriptive path that in the end produces what should be (if the plan was good) a strong project. The issue with this is that there isn’t a view during the process to see if that plan is going well. Start to finish the plan runs from top to bottom with no going back to check on outcomes or to assess the validity of what is being created and, as Bates discussed in regards to the ADDIE method, you risk finishing with a product that is no longer relevant.

A solution to this is to take a more agile approach to the development of courses. This addresses the volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous environments that Adamson calls a VUCA environment. This is a method that is often used in technological fields such as software development where there is definitely an element of the VUCA environment. By using the agile methodology (as set forth in the Agile Manifesto for Software Development) there is an ability to begin to use these ideas for software development. I believe that there is the chance to create an agile model for instructional design using these rules:

Learners and Engagement over processes and tools

Interactive Materials over static artifacts

Learner collaboration over prescribed learning pathways

Responding to change over following a plan

This implementation of the agile methods will also allow for instructional design to be more iterative while looking at the needs and interactions with the learners. This solves many of the issues addressed by Bates in the need for the learner to be able to find their own answers and be able to apply their knowledge to real world problems.

The introduction of agile into any new environment is sure to have issues that will arise and will likely add more effort and work to the instructional designer but in the end this solution likely has the ability to create a better and more engaging learning environment for the learner.

Bates, T. (2014, November 23). Is the ADDIE model appropriate for teaching in a digital age? Retrieved from https://www.tonybates.ca/2014/09/09/is-the-addie-model-appropriate-for-teaching-in-a-digital-age/

Beck, K., Beedle, M., Van Bennekum, A., Cockburn, A., Cunningham, W., Fowler, M., . . . Thomas, D. (2001). Manifesto for Agile Software Development. Retrieved November 15, 2018, from http://agilemanifesto.org/