Instructional Design: The Cog in Delivering Effective Instruction

When I first started teaching in a 1:1 computing classroom, I thought the tool of the netbook would drive instruction. Instruction would revolve around teaching applications and having the students create cool projects that would prove, without a doubt, that my students would be well versed in 21 century skills. I quickly realized, however, that the netbook is just a tool and that sound instruction, which relies fundamentally on curricular outcomes, is truly what drives instruction. As the year has progressed, I have come to understand the importance of creating effective instructional design in order to truly fascilitate learning. I also learned very quickly the importance of starting to create online instructional design on a small scale. In order to avoid insanity, I started by designing online instruction in one subject area. (ELA) Each task was outlined in a series of sequential steps and differentiated learning pathways were created so that students could work toward academic independence at their own rate and in their own way. As time passed, I began to witness the benefits of designing instruction that took into consideration the different modalities and learner profiles of all of my students. I now design online instruction in 6 out of the 7 subject areas I teach. I know that all of my students are learning and that I am meeting the necessary subject outcomes. Through online instructional design my lessons have a clarity of focus that was lacking in the traditional way that I used to teach.