What is Instructional Design?

At its core, instructional design is the art and science of making learning work. It’s about taking what we know about how people learn and using that knowledge to create learning experiences that actually stick. Think of instructional design as the bridge between “here’s what people need to learn” and “here’s the best way to help them learn it.”

Imagine trying to build a house without a blueprint. Sure, you might end up with four walls and a roof, but would it be stable? Would it meet your needs? Instructional Design is that blueprint for learning. It’s about using what we know about how people learn to create educational experiences that are both effective and engaging.

The Role of an Instructional Designer

Instructional Designers are like learning architects – they look at the big picture and design experiences that help people develop new skills and knowledge effectively. Instructional Designers:

• Analyse complex learning challenges to identify what really needs to be taught
• Design experiences that make learning stick, while keeping costs and resources in mind
• Create learning solutions that work in the real world, whether that’s a classroom, workplace, or online environment
• Choose the right mix of teaching methods and technology to support effective learning
• Measure success by how well learners actually master new skills and knowledge

But they’re not just working on intuition. Instructional Designers combine proven learning principles with practical experience to create solutions that are:

• Effective – because what’s the point if people aren’t actually learning?
• Engaging – because bored learners aren’t learning either
• Efficient – because time and resources matter
• Practical – because they need to work within real-world constraints

Instructional Design in the Modern Learning Landscape

We’re living in the Information Age, where knowledge isn’t locked in textbooks anymore – it’s everywhere.

This changes everything about how we need to approach learning. Today’s learners don’t need more information; they need to know how to:

• Find reliable information in a sea of data
• Apply knowledge effectively in real-world situations
• Adapt to rapidly changing environments
• Think critically and solve complex problems

Technology in Instructional Design

While technology offers exciting new ways to learn, Instructional Designers know that good teaching isn’t about using the newest tech – it’s about using the right tools for the job. Sometimes that’s a sophisticated eLearning platform; sometimes it’s a well-designed worksheet. The key is matching the method to the learning need.

Instructional Design, Educational Design or Learning Design

Whether you call it Instructional Design, Educational Design, or Learning Design, the core principle remains the same: creating learning experiences that prepare people for success in our knowledge-based, global society. The terms Instructional Design, Educational Design and Learning Design can be used interchangeably.  Learn more. 

We’ve summarised some key skills and qualities that make a great Instructional Designer.

Modern learning design has been fundamentally shaped by technological advances that enable:

• Hybrid and remote learning environments
• Personalised learning paths through AI and adaptive technologies
• Mobile-first learning experiences for on-the-go access
• Microlearning and just-in-time learning solutions
• Virtual and augmented reality for immersive experiences
• Learning analytics and data-driven decision-making

These influences require Instructional Designers to be agile, tech-savvy, and focused on creating solutions that are both effective and aligned with modern workplace needs. Success depends on balancing these various factors while maintaining focus on clear learning outcomes and performance improvement.

Instructional Design Australia (IDA) draws on the ADDIE model of Instructional Design when delivering our learning design services to clients across Australia. Watch the video below to learn more on how IDA apply the ADDIE model.

Think of instructional design models as trusted recipes for creating effective learning experiences. While there are numerous approaches, here are some of the most influential and widely-used frameworks:

ADDIE Model

The cornerstone of instructional design, ADDIE provides a systematic approach through five key phases:

• Analyse – Understanding learner needs, goals, and constraints
• Design – Planning the learning strategy and choosing methods
• Develop – Creating the actual learning materials and content
• Implement – Delivering the learning experience
• Evaluate – Assessing effectiveness and making improvements

SAM (Successive Approximation Model)

Think of SAM as ADDIE’s more agile cousin. It’s iterative and flexible, perfect for today’s fast-paced learning needs:

• Preparation – Quick evaluation of needs and constraints
• Iterative Design – Rapid prototyping and refinement
• Iterative Development – Small, quick improvements based on feedback

Merrill’s First Principles of Instruction

David Merrill identified five principles that appear in most effective learning environments:

• Task-centered – Learning focuses on real-world tasks
• Activation – Building on existing knowledge
• Demonstration – Showing, not just telling
• Application – Learners must practice and apply
• Integration – Helping learners transfer knowledge to their world

Gagne’s Nine Events of Instruction

Gagne’s Nine Events of Instruction is a structured approach ensuring all essential learning elements are covered:

• Gain attention
• Inform learners of objectives
• Stimulate recall of prior learning
• Present the content
• Provide learning guidance
• Elicit performance
• Provide feedback
• Assess performance
• Enhance retention and transfer

Bloom’s Taxonomy

While not strictly a design model, Bloom’s Taxonomy is crucial for designing learning objectives and activities across different cognitive levels:

• Remember
• Understand
• Apply
• Analyse
• Evaluate
• Create

Backward Design (Understanding by Design)

This approach starts with the end in mind:

• Identify desired results
• Determine acceptable evidence
• Plan learning experiences and instruction