#soft-systems

In the effort to simplify ID and it's many theories in my mind, I found the greatest graphic google has ever offered up in an Image search: 

Besides being informative, it even looks beautiful which begs the question, If Instructional Designers are essentially writing these books and publishing these articles, why aren't their models as informative and as visually captivating as this one? Hmmm....

Instructional Design, by Molenda, Reigeluth, and Nelson, discussed a period post-WWII where the US Military had developed a doctine for training development based on the "soft" systems approach combining a Behaviorist Learning Theory. It was called 'soft' because it dealt with psychological, social, and cultural problems. However, the idea that military training and academia were following the same cognitive model is almost a little frightening. But this systems approach was applied to higher learning and actually used terminology like "mission objectives' and "error detection". Since then, "soft" systems methodology has evolved and is no longer a "recipe for guaranteed efficient achievement" (as cited in Molenda et al.). It is an approach, however, for solving real-world problems through step-by-step organized system. 

Here is such an example of a problem (Cooking Rice) and steps necessary to solve it (Soft-System Approach). From this systems approach spawned the ADDIE model, which similarly recommends using the output as the input for the next step (i.e. the research gained through analysis is used to design or re-design).

(Smith & Ragan)

Education is the experiences in which people learn. In contrast, instruction is the delivery of these focused experiences. Most instruction then, is designed specifically to meet those particular learning goals. The instruction must me implemented in a way that ensures "effective, efficient, and appealing experiences" when leading towards those specific goals. The instructional designer is the planner behind the instructional design that will determine what the environment will look like following  those basic principals of learning. In contrast, teaching is the learning experience conducted by a human, NOT via video technology or textbook. It is the planning conducted by the designer, who must answer three questions  (Mager, 1984): 1. Where are we going? (What are the goals of the instruction?) 2. How will we get there? (What is the instructional strategy and the instructional medium?) 3. How will we know when we have arrived? (What should our tests look like? How will we evaluate and revise the instructional materials?)

Willis's R2D2 Model:

1. Define- involves 3 activities (creating and supporting a participatory team), (Progressive problem solving), (developing contextual understanding)

2. Design & Development - occur together in order to allow consistent feedback. Involves three activities- (selection of a development environment= tools of the design and process of design, (Cooperative Inquiry-constant research until goals are established), (product design and development)