Curriculum Development & Instructional Design Flashcards

Which instructional design model is MOST associated with rapid prototyping and iterative development?

Answer: SAM (Successive Approximation Model)

The Successive Approximation Model (SAM) emphasizes quick prototypes and repeated feedback cycles rather than a strict linear process.

The primary purpose of a terminal objective in a lesson plan is to:

Answer: State what learners will be able to do at the END of instruction

A terminal objective describes the overall performance learners are expected to demonstrate upon completing a unit or course.

An adult educator notices that learners struggle with new vocabulary before engaging with course content. The BEST instructional design response is to:

Answer: Conduct a pre-assessment and provide vocabulary scaffolding before content instruction

Pre-assessing vocabulary knowledge and providing scaffolding activates prior knowledge and reduces cognitive load before the main content is introduced.

Cognitive load theory in instructional design suggests that materials should be designed to:

Answer: Minimize extraneous processing and manage intrinsic load to support learning

Cognitive load theory holds that working memory is limited, so well-designed instruction reduces irrelevant load and structures content to support schema formation.

Which sequencing strategy presents content in overlapping cycles, revisiting topics at increasing levels of complexity?

Answer: Spiral curriculum

A spiral curriculum (Bruner) revisits core concepts multiple times with increasing depth, building on prior understanding each time.

In adult education program planning, a logic model is BEST used to:

Answer: Show the relationship between program inputs, activities, outputs, and outcomes

A logic model visually depicts how program resources and activities connect to expected short-term and long-term outcomes.

An instructional designer is creating a self-paced online module for adult nurses. Applying Merrill's Principles of Instruction, the FIRST principle to apply is:

Answer: Problem-centered task

Merrill's First Principles begin with a real-world problem or task that organizes and motivates all subsequent learning.