MDDE+603

=[|MDDE 603]: Foundations of Instructional Design: Systems Analysis and Learning Theory=

My Instructors were: [|Elizabeth Childs] and [|Mary Kennedy]

Overview
Two major disciplines underlie instructional design – systems design and learning theory. In this course//,// you will be introduced to systems in general, educational systems in particular, and systems analysis. You will also be introduced to a broad range of learning theories and explore the role they play in instructional design. The contributions of various areas of psychology, including behaviourism and cognitive psychology, will be explored, culminating in an examination of instructional systems design and constructivist models of instruction. //MDDE: 603: Foundations of Instructional Design: Systems Analysis and Learning Theory// has been designed to foster new ways of looking at education, particularly distance education, and new perspectives of how complex systems work. It explores teaching and learning, and provides you with important insights related to learning theory and how it relates to instructional design. Together, the topics covered in this course provide a foundation for //MDDE 604:////Instructional Design and in Distance Education//, where you will complete an actual instructional design project.

Course Objectives
After completing this course students will be able to:
 * Explain why a systems approach is important in the design of education, particularly distance education.
 * Analyse educational systems, including distance educational systems, in terms of various systems models.
 * Discuss the main epistemological orientations that underlie the various theories of learning and interpret these orientations in light of their own views on the teaching – learning process.
 * Compare and contrast the three major learning theories – Behavioural, Cognitive, and Constructivist – that underlie Instructional Design theory and models.
 * Explain how Behavioural, Cognitive, and Constructivist theories apply to Instructional Design, especially that pertaining to Distance Education modalities and learning environments.
 * Explain how Cognitive Development theories apply to Instructional Design, especially that pertaining to Distance Education modalities and learning environments.
 * Explain how the biological bases of learning inform Instructional Design, especially that pertaining to Distance Education modalities and learning environments.
 * Describe the major theories of human motivation and explain how these inform Instructional Design, especially that pertaining to Distance Education modalities and learning environments.
 * Develop a personalized theory of teaching and learning for use in the design of Distance Education and learning environments.

Course Outline
The course units for MDDE 603 include the following:
 * Unit 1:** Personal Perspective on teaching and Learning
 * Unit 2:** Systems Concepts
 * Unit 3:** Systems Analysis
 * Unit 4:** Behavioural Theories of Learning
 * Unit 5:** Cognitive Theories of Learning
 * Unit 6:** Cognitive Development
 * Unit 7:** Biological bases of Learning
 * Unit 8:** Motivation and Learning
 * Unit 9:** Cognitive and Social Constructivist Theories of Learning
 * Unit 10:** Situated Learning and Learning Environments