By Brant Wilkerson-New
September 16, 2025
Key Takeaways
- Instructional design models offer systematic frameworks for creating effective, efficient, and engaging learning experiences in both educational and corporate settings.
- ADDIE is the foundational five-phase model (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation) that serves as the standard framework for most instructional design projects.
- Different models serve different purposes: SAM for agile development, ASSURE for technology integration, Dick & Carey for complex systems, and Kemp for flexible projects.
- Universal learning principles transcend specific models. Merrill’s principles emphasize real-world problems, while Gagné’s nine-event structure organizes individual lessons, progressing from attention to retention.
- Bloom’s Taxonomy influences learning objectives by organizing cognitive skills into six levels, ranging from remembering to creating, thereby preventing instruction that focuses only on lower-level thinking.
- The ARCS model addresses learner motivation through four key components: attention, relevance, confidence, and satisfaction.
- Model selection depends on several key project factors, including scope, timeline, resources, team experience, technology requirements, and organizational culture.
- Successful instructional designers combine multiple models to create hybrid approaches tailored to specific learning requirements and contexts.
- Modern instructional design strikes a balance between systematic methodology and creative flexibility, accommodating new technologies while upholding proven educational principles.
Instructional design models are both an art and a science. With so many new technological developments emerging almost daily, people must continually train and stay up to date. The right match between an instructional design model and a learning goal creates opportunities for businesses to succeed.
At its core, instructional design is an organized way to deliver learning and educational experiences in an efficient, effective, and engaging manner. Many instructional models can be adapted to the material, target audience, and expectations of an organization. These learning models can be used for developing online learning courses, corporate training modules, or educational materials.
This systematic approach to learning design incorporates various activities that help instructional designers create effective training programs using best practices. Each guide serves as a roadmap for developing comprehensive educational solutions.
Each design model comes with its own principles and philosophy. The best approach is to understand the fundamentals of each model and apply them to the organization’s needs, taking into account the content, goals, and audience.
Picture instructional design models as a blueprint that provides the framework for the curriculum and the learning experience. Its content is organized according to principles and logical sequences. These models have been refined over decades of research and practical application to be applied to the learning experience.Â
Let’s examine the most popular instructional design models and how they align with the learning process.
The ADDIE Model: The Foundation of Instructional Design
The ADDIE Model is the standard and most recognized framework in instructional design, and for good reason. This approach breaks down the design process into five phases: Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation. Each phase builds upon the previous one, creating a logical and intuitive methodology.
Analysis
During the Analysis phase, designers assess needs and highlight the learning objectives, audience characteristics, and existing constraints. This step lays the groundwork for all future steps and prevents costly mistakes later in the process. This systematic approach helps identify potential challenges and ensures that the instructional design process aligns with organizational requirements.
Design
The Design phase turns analysis into concrete learning strategies. At this stage, designers select the most effective instructional methods, assessment techniques, and media. This step is where creativity meets strategy, as designers develop the blueprint for the learning process. Instructional designers must understand their target audience and create learning activities that align with their knowledge and skill levels.
Development
Development brings the design to life by creating actual content, materials, and resources. During this phase, several professionals work together towards a common goal. Subject matter experts, graphic designers, and multimedia specialists produce the necessary learning materials. This development process requires careful management to ensure quality outcomes.
Implementation
Implementation delivers the content to learners, whether in classroom settings, online learning environments, or blended formats. Success during the implementation phase rests on the quality of work completed in previous phases. This stage involves deploying training programs and ensuring that students can access and engage with the learning experience.
Evaluation
How well did the learning go? The evaluation stage aims to answer this exact question. Evaluation is determined on two levels. The first level involves making improvements on the spot throughout the process. The second is a summative evaluation to assess the overall effectiveness of the training. Formative evaluation helps identify areas for improvement, while evaluating the effectiveness of training ensures that the learning outcomes are met.
Dick and Carey Model: A Systems Approach to Learning
The Dick and Carey Model takes a systems-thinking approach to instructional design. The main philosophy is based on the idea that all components within a learning system are naturally interconnected. This model expands beyond ADDIE’s five phases into ten detailed steps, providing granular support for complex instructional projects.
This model emphasizes the relationship between learning objectives, instructional strategies, and assessment methods. It brings together what learners need to achieve, how to teach them, and how to measure their progress. The goal is to minimize gaps and inconsistencies that can undermine learning effectiveness, creating a seamless learning environment.
The model focuses on instructional goals and analyzes the learner and context environments because these affect the final goal. It then moves through instructional analysis, writing performance objectives, assessment instruments, and instructional strategies. The process concludes with assessments and evaluations of instruction.Â
This systematic instructional design approach ensures that instructional designers develop comprehensive training programs that effectively address both learners and contexts.
Kemp Model: Flexibility in Design
The Kemp Model, also known as the Morrison, Ross, and Kemp Model, is a more flexible alternative to linear design approaches. Rather than following a strict sequence, this model views instructional design as a continuous cycle, allowing designers to enter at any point and move between elements as needed.
Thanks to its flowing and flexible philosophy, the Kemp Model is great for projects with changing requirements. It is also suitable for training with existing materials that need improvement rather than a complete redesign.
The model is comprised of nine elements arranged in an oval. It identifies problems and specifies goals. It examines the characteristics of the audience and identifies the subject content and learning objectives. Other parts of the nine elements are sequencing content, designing instructional strategies, planning instructional messages and delivery, developing assessment instruments, and selecting resources to support instruction.
The model’s strength lies in its flexibility, recognizing that instructional design is rarely a linear process. Real-world projects often require designers to revisit earlier decisions, incorporate new information, or adapt to new challenges and circumstances. The Kemp instructional design model’s flexible structure takes into account these realities while still providing a blueprint for the learning process, where content is organized and delivered in a logical manner.
ASSURE Model: Technology-Enhanced Learning
The ASSURE Model emphasizes the integration of technology and media into the instructional process, which is particularly relevant in our digital learning environment. The acronym stands for Analyze learners, State objectives, Select methods and media, Utilize media and technology, Require learner participation, and Evaluate and review.
This model acknowledges that the use of technology requires careful planning to make sure it aligns with the learning objectives. Simply adding technology to instruction doesn’t automatically improve learning outcomes. Instead, the ASSURE Model supplies a framework that helps designers decide when, how, and why to incorporate technological tools.
The model highlights active learner participation, using technology to engage learners rather than creating passive consumption experiences. The ASSURE Model is based on interactivity and engagement, reflecting how people learn most effectively. This essential approach to elearning ensures that students remain engaged throughout their learning experience.
SAM Model: Agile Instructional Design
The Successive Approximation Model (SAM) brings agile development principles to instructional design. It highlights rapid prototyping and iterative improvement. Developed by Allen Interactions, SAM recognizes the need for faster development cycles without sacrificing quality.
SAM exists in two versions: SAM1 for smaller projects and SAM2 for more complex initiatives. Both versions emphasize preparation, iterative design, and development phases, but SAM2 includes additional steps for larger-scale projects. The model produces working prototypes quickly, which can be tested by stakeholders and learners who give their feedback.
This model identifies any problems early on when they’re less expensive to fix. It also keeps stakeholders engaged throughout the process, as they can see and interact with actual learning materials rather than just reviewing design documents. It encourages them to be active participants and express their perspective on the material. The iterative development approach supports continuous refinement, making it a top instructional design choice for program development.
Merrill’s Principles of Instruction: Universal Learning Principles
David Merrill’s Principles of Instruction bring together decades of research in instructional design. This model organizes the experience into five universal principles that boost learning effectiveness, regardless of the content area or delivery method.
These principles are the following:
- Learning is more effective when learners are engaged in solving real-world problems.
- Existing knowledge is the foundation for new knowledge.
- Demonstrate new knowledge to the learner.
- The learner applies the new knowledge.
- Learners integrate the new knowledge into their world.
These principles transcend specific models or methodologies and serve as guidelines that can enrich any instructional design approach. They emphasize authentic, problem-centered learning that connects new information to learners’ existing knowledge and experiences. This method creates a grid of information that allows learners to solve current problems and meet their requirements.
You can apply Merrill’s principles to many learning processes, from designing a medical training simulation to developing a corporate compliance course or an elementary mathematics lesson. This systematic approach ensures that instructional designers use best practices in their design and development work.
Gagné’s Nine Events of Instruction: The Learning Process Blueprint
Robert Gagné’s Nine Events of Instruction is a detailed framework for structuring individual lessons or learning sessions. These events fit with cognitive processing requirements. The philosophy behind this instructional model is that instruction should support rather than overwhelm the learners’ mental processes.
The nine events start with gaining attention and informing learners of the objectives. They then move to stimulate recall of prior learning, present stimulus material, and provide learning assistance. They then bring out performance, provide feedback, and assess the results. The goal is for learners to retain the information and transfer it to upcoming challenges and opportunities.
This model is invaluable for designing individual lessons within larger curricula. It focuses on the idea that each learning session includes all necessary elements for effective learning, which include motivation, attention-getting, practice, and feedback. University programs often employ this model of instructional design to develop comprehensive learning activities that support skill development and knowledge acquisition.
Bloom’s Taxonomy: Leveling Learning Objectives
Benjamin Bloom, the established educational psychologist who developed the taxonomy that bears his name, created a systematic way to categorize learning objectives. While not strictly an instructional design model, his taxonomy influences how designers structure learning objectives and assessments. It organizes cognitive skills into six levels of increasing complexity: remembering, understanding, applying, analyzing, evaluating, and creating.
This framework allows designers to organize and create content that aligns with the cognitive levels of their learners and learning goals. It also provides a common language for discussing learning objectives and helps prevent instruction that focuses exclusively on lower-level thinking skills.Â
Modern applications of Bloom’s Taxonomy extend beyond traditional academic work to include corporate training, professional development, and skill-building programs across various industries. The taxonomy serves as a fundamental guide for instructional designers who need to identify appropriate learning activities for different cognitive levels. This systematic approach helps ensure that training programs develop both foundational knowledge and skills, as well as higher-order thinking abilities.
ARCS Model: Motivational Design
The ARCS Model considers a key but often overlooked aspect of instructional design: learner motivation. Developed by Dr. John Keller, the model focuses on four components of motivation: Attention, Relevance, Confidence, and Satisfaction.
Attention
Attention strategies capture and keep learners’ interest throughout the learning experience. These activities help ensure that students remain focused and engaged with the material.
Relevance
Relevance connects learning content to learners’ goals, interests, and experiences. This connection helps students understand why the material is noteworthy and how it could be related to their personal or professional development.
Confidence
Confidence-building strategies help learners develop positive expectations for success through self-confidence. These approaches ensure that learners feel capable of achieving the learning outcomes.
Satisfaction
Satisfaction ensures that learners feel positively about their learning experience and achievements, and they are encouraged to take pride in them. This final component ensures retention and transfer of new knowledge to real-world situations.
You can apply the ARCS Model in conjunction with other instructional design frameworks. It adds a motivational dimension that improves learning, effectiveness, and success. Many university programs and corporate training initiatives incorporate ARCS principles to boost learner engagement and motivation.
Rapid Prototyping: Speed Meets Quality
Rapid Prototyping in instructional design borrows concepts from software development and manufacturing. It rests on the idea of creating working models quickly, which can then be tested and refined. This approach is particularly valuable for new technologies, unfamiliar content areas, or when working under tight deadlines.
The process designs a basic version of instructional materials quickly and tests them with representative users. The model gathers feedback and makes improvements in successive iterations. This cycle continues until the materials meet quality standards and the learning objectives set at the beginning.
Rapid Prototyping identifies problems early. It reduces development costs and keeps projects moving forward even when requirements aren’t completely clear from the beginning. Thanks to its continuous assessments, it can be used for projects that have no straightforward goals when they begin. This approach encourages instructional designers to test ideas quickly and make adjustments based on user feedback, ensuring that the final program effectively meets the needs of learners.
Build on Strong Foundations
The above instructional design models rest on decades of research, practice, and refinement in education and training. Each model has its strengths and applications. They all share common goals, such as creating effective, efficient, and engaging learning experiences that yield measurable results.
Instructional designers are aware of the benefits of each model and apply them to the learning process, tailored to the needs, expectations, and challenges of the learners. These models comprise the toolkit that designers use to meet the learning needs of organizations and businesses. A good instructional designer knows how to effectively combine and tailor models and learning experiences to enrich the workforce and increase efficiency and productivity.
Free access to various design models offers instructional designers the opportunity to experiment with different approaches and find the best fit for their specific needs. The key to a successful implementation of any training program is understanding how to help instructional designers better navigate these choices.
The Right Model for Your Project
As you can see, there are many instructional design models to choose from, and each focuses on a different aspect of the learning process, such as motivation, flexibility, or active learner participation. The right model depends on various factors, including project scope, timeline, available resources, learner characteristics, and organizational culture.
Larger, more complex projects are good fits for comprehensive models like Dick and Carey, while smaller initiatives might work well with ADDIE or SAM. University programs often require more systematic approaches, while corporate training might benefit from more flexible methodologies.
To choose the right one for you, consider your team’s experience level, stakeholder expectations, and the degree of flexibility you need throughout the project. Some organizations prefer structured, linear approaches, while others thrive with more agile, intuitive, and flexible methodologies. An overview of each model’s strengths can help instructional designers make informed decisions about which approach to adopt.
The most successful instructional designers often combine elements from multiple models. They develop hybrid approaches that highlight the project’s specificities and requirements, aligning with the theoretical basis of the learning model. This flexibility allows them to create effective and engaging learning experiences that cater to diverse learner needs.
The secret to success lies in recognizing how each model can be applied to a specific learning requirement. Learning principles must be tailored to meet the learners’ needs and align with the organization’s goals. A good designer creates instructional courses that exploit the best of each model towards a fulfilling learning experience.
An Art and a Science
The field of instructional models is constantly evolving with new technologies and emerging research. Models adapt and grow to accommodate modern and current requirements. A successful instructional designer stays current with developments while remaining true to the philosophy and methodology of each model. Design models provide maximum value to learners only through proper knowledge of the industry standards and best practices.
That is why instructional design models are both an art and a science. The ability to review and identify the most appropriate model for each situation, combined with the skill to implement it effectively, distinguishes top instructional design professionals from their peers. Whether working on elearning courses, traditional classroom training, or blended learning solutions, these models serve as the foundation for successful educational experiences.
Contact us today to discuss your project’s goals, book a complimentary demonstration, and learn how we can assist you. TimelyText is a trusted professional writing service and instructional design consulting partner for Fortune 500 companies worldwide!
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