Confirming and evaluating

Confirming and evaluating are two ways we check and review our instructional designs. One of these happens during the design process and one of these happens after we’ve deployed our instructional designs.

As part of the design process, we need to confirm that our instructional design will be effective, impactful, and engaging and that it will help students to realise the learning objectives we have chosen.

To do this we can make use of our empathy map and the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values we developed in the identify phase. These are the tools which allow us to check our instructional design:

• Accurately reflects, acknowledges, and accommodates our students’ needs.
• Meets our students “where they are at” so that the learning experience is accessible.
• Authentically and meaningfully connects to our students’ existing knowledge, current context, and particular experiences.
• Establishes learning objectives that are relevant, suitable, and appropriate.
• Supports students in reaching the learning objectives we have chosen.
• Engages students by allowing for autonomy, developing mastery, and providing purpose.

Reflection Questions

What do you do to check a lesson, unit of study or curriculum will serve its purpose before it is deployed?

What are the ways that you use, experiences that your draw upon, or expertise that you make use of to help you confirm your instructional designs?