The design of instructional materials

Abstract

This article describes a new model for the analysis and development of instructional materials. This model is in the tradition of human performance engineering. The model combines behavioral and cognitive approaches in a single, systematic approach that has proven successful in a number of different applications. The key to the model lies in its top-down approach to problem analysis. The performance analyst begins by analyzing the overall performance situation, then moves to a general analysis of the appropriate behavioral sequence. After the behavioral sequence is identified, the analyst determines attitudinal and performance heuristics. Finally, the analyst describes or develops subject matter theories to support the use of the heuristics. The design and development process parallels the steps in a top-down task analysis and therefore results in an elegant and efficient developmental effort. The general steps of this approach are described and then illustrated by explaining how it was used to guide the design of an instructional package to teach bank officers how to sell financial services.