Instructional Design Theories and Models: An Overview of Their Current Status

If you're an instructional designer or curriculum developer buy this book - it will make you better at what you do! I purchased this book over 10 years ago and as my career as an Instructional Designer has progressed, it has turned out to be my most trusted source. No other book in my I.D. library is as dog-eared, annotated and worn. Even after nearly 20 years, the information in this book is still as relevant and useful as it was the day it first rolled off the press.

This book provides a great overview of the theories and models that shaped the field of instructional design up through the 70's. It is a popular primer and reference guide for the field. Reigeluth provides a history and description of the field of instructional design. He then provides a theoretical framework for comparing instructional models and theories. In Unit II, the theories and models are introduced by Reigeluth, with biographical information about the theorists. The theories and models are usually described by the actual theorists. Reigeluth has written volume II of this book, which covers later theories and models. There was also a companion book, Instructional Theories in Action: Lessons Illustrating Selected Theories and Models, written in 1987, which demonstrates how the theories can be implemented to design courses. These books can be a little abstract for those new to the field. However, if you want a hands-on guide to design, also get Instructional Design Strategies and Tactics by Cynthia B. Leshin, Joellyn Pollock, and Charles M. Reigeluth.

Reigeluth's book was a classic when it was published and it still is. This is a very important book which brings together the very best known instructional theories of the 70's. It starts with "Instructional Design: What is it and why is it?" and continues with the models and theories of instructional design. I especially liked the theoretical framework presented in the book that serves as a 'schema' for interpreting, understanding, and evaluating instructional design theories. By doing that, this book highly contributes to the field of instructional design that is so distributed and diverse. Every instructional designer should read this book to base their design on the theories presented in the book for effective and efficient instruction. I especially liked the way the book is organized so that it can even be used to teach instructional design to novice. Reigeluth even provides guidelines for it in the beginning of the book. I used it in my teaching and I received very positive feedback from my students. It is my belief that every instructional designer should have this one of a kind book.