EME 5055: Trends and Issues
in Instructional Design and Technology

Course Syllabus

Goals | Objectives | Readings | Unit Topics/Class Activities | Academic Honor Code

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Goal of the Course

This course is primarily intended for students who intend to become professionals in the field of instructional design and technology. Professionals in any field should be able to do more than just perform the skills associated with that field. They should also know something about the field's history, its current status, and the trends and issues likely to have an impact on the field. The purpose of this course is to help students become conversant in these areas. The specific objectives for this course are listed below.

 

Course Objectives

Unit I: Definitions and History

  1. Compare and evaluate various definitions of the field of instructional design and technology (also known as instructional technology).
  2. Define the term "instructional design", describe the major defining features of the instructional design process, and discuss why those features are important.
  3. Describe the relationship between the terms (a) instructional design and technology, (b) instructional design, and (c) instructional media.
  4. Describe the reasons (past and present) instructional media have not been

    5. used more extensively and discuss potential solutions to these problems.

  5. Describe how some of the important events in the history of instructional design are related to current instructional design theories and practices.

Unit II: Recent Trends and Issues

  1. Describe the key ideas and practices associated with various trends in the field of instructional design and technology.
  2. Describe how the ideas and practices associated with a trend could be applied in a given instructional situation.
  3. Describe how the ideas and practices associated with various trends are related.

 

Readings

The required readings for this course consist of a group of carefully selected journal articles and book excerpts. These readings contain a great deal of useful information about current trends and issues in our field, as well as its history. Most of the activities in this course will be based on the readings. You are required to read each reading prior to the date it will be discussed in class! The readings can be purchased through the department.

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Unit Topics and In-Class Activities

During Unit I, we will focus on definitions and the history of our field. In-class activities during this unit will consist primarily of small-group and large-group discussions of the readings. Study questions will be given out in advance so as to provide a common ground for the group discussions.

During Unit II, we will focus on many of the recent trends and issues related to our field. As in Unit I, study questions will be provided to help guide you through the readings. In-class activities will consist of small-group and large- group discussions, as well as some guest lectures and 'hands-on" activities that will enable you to experience some of the trends we will be studying. For example, when we study distance learning, you will participate in a distance learning experience.

 

Academic Honor Code

Students in this course are required to conform to the FSU Academic Honor Code. A copy of this code can be found in the FSU General Bulletin, as well as in the FSU Student Handbook. Violations of this code will result in your receiving a failing grade for this course.

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