Instructional Objectives

Instructional objectives determine what learners need to accomplish at the end of the instruction. Designers therefore need to define them clearly.

They help in the design of appropraite instruction, help in evaluating or assessing students' learning and also serve as a guide to learners.

They (objectives) are grouped in three domains namely cognitive, psychomotor and affective domains, and it is important to understand each domain with their respective taxonomies when planning instruction. The domains should reflect in the statement of your objectives and particularly in the higher levels.

Objectives should be stated in behavioral terms and they should focus on outcomes of learning and not the process. An example of an acceptable objective is;

By the end of the instruction, learners will be able to identify the parts of the human body and explain the functions of each. This example really depicts a change in behaviour after going through the instruction, and that is how objective should be set.

Task Analysis

This is the most critical step in the design process. This has to do basically with the content to include in the instruction. It deals with the collection of procedures for designing the content. The following should be noted:

Facts, concepts, principles and rules, procedures, interpersonal skills and attitude, are structures that are associated with task analysis and as designers there is the need to note the differences amongs them and not to confuse them especially with facts and concepts.

In conducting the task analysis, you can either be your own Subject Matter Expert (SME) or need to work with one (SME). In the case of the former, there is the need to "pretend" as if you know nothing about the topic.

In gathering data for any design, interviewing an SME is the best technique and he/she will determine whether to have it (interview) in an office or at a location with the appropraite equipment or conditions.

It is always good to search the web for knowledge about the problem before meeting with the SME.

Definition of roles between the SME and the designer is very essential in analysing task. As SME's ensure that essential and accurate contenet is included, the instructional designers organise and sequence the content efficiently, taking note of learning and instructional theories.

The importance of the characteristics of learners in the planning process

In designing instruction, there is the need to consider the learners for whom a program is being developed. The concept of individual differences matters so much. There is the need to understand these differences and characteristics, and how they provide opportunities or constraints on our designs. These should be taken note of early in the planning process.

Designers should also know that learner motivation is also an important determinant in the planning process. Learners who are highly motivated are likely to respond positively to the instruction than those who are not. The latter need strategies that will build their confidence in the course of the lesson. It is therefore necessary to begin with the easy content and gradually increase to the more difficult. (Simple to complex by Pestalozzi)

Phase 1

All too soon phase 1 of the project has been submitted (last week). It wasn't as easy task though but that hurdle has been taken care of.

My topic revolves around entreprenuership promotion initiatives among young students and the target audience is the distance education teacher-trainee students in the basic and senior secondary schools. The project seeks to stimulate teachers to appreciate the need to create the interest among young graduates the desire to start their own busness ventures.

The unemployment phenomenon in Ghana has reached a very serious point and this is evident in the way young people run to metropolitan areas in search of clerical employments that are very limited. The public sector cannot employ all these young folks and government is overwhelmed with the phenomenon.

Teachers themselves should be able to understand the concept and its tenets to be able to teach it effectively. It is therefore necessary that teachers, (distance education teacher-trainees) in this regard are given a fair idea about the whole idea of entrepreneurship drive so that they can in effect, assist government efforts at creating employable skills among the youth.

I hope to be able to design an effective instruction at the end of the course to address this problem.

VIEWS ABOUT THE VIDEO CONFERENCE

It was really an exciting experience having to meet as colleagues once again to encourage ourselves and to meet with our instructor to brief us on the nitty-gritties of the course. As the name goes-INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN.

We are going to design instruction either as educators, administrators or whatever our schedules entail. Effective instruction makes learning interesting, saves time and money, and it leads to increase in out put.

I hope as we sail through this course, we will be effective designers of instruction for our individual outfits and the nation as a whole.

About me

I am Patricia Appiah-Boateng. I hold a B.ed degree in Art Education from the University of Education, Winneba, post graduate diploma in Distance Education by distance, from the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).

I work with the University of Education as a graphic artist at the Institute of Educational Development and Extension-Distance Education Department.

My duties as a Graphic Artist in this regard involves evaluating and upgrading levels of computer literacy, and graphic design in desktop publishing (DTP), establishing and maintaining visual standards of the graphic design components of IEDE publications;

· design the IEDE house style for printed materials
· design generic covers, internal layouts and icons for all distance education courses
· produce a house style guide to maintain the house style developed for IEDE
· develop guidelines for visual presentation of diagrammatic information for distance education materials
· train and advice counterparts in IEDE in DTP and information design.
· facilitate in workshops to explain the IEDE design approach and how the writers should present the visual input (illustration/diagrams) for distance education study materials.

My research interest involves using educational technology for effective distance education delivery and I hope this course is going to go a long way to inspire me to higher heights.