History of Instructional Design

  • Origins of Instructional Design

    During WWII, a large number of psychologist and educator who had training and experience in conducting experimental research were called upon to conduct research and development training materials for the military services.
  • Criterion-Referenced Testing

    This allowed instructional designers to measure the amount of knowledge acquired as a result of instruction.
  • Domains/Hierachy of Learning

    Led to the notion that learners should acquire lower level skills before they attempt higher level ones.
  • Computers for Instructional Purposes

    Many began producing computer based instruction. Computers began to be used to automate some instructional design task.
  • Learning on the Internet

    Since the beginning of the twenty-first century, the increased use of the internet has led to utilizing it as a means of providing instruction to learners through online courses and a variety of other means.