DICK & CAREY MODEL

OVERVIEW

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The Dick and Carey Model, developed by Walter Dick and Lou Carey in 1978, is a systematic approach to instructional design. The model is renowned for its comprehensive and detailed framework, guiding educators and instructional designers to create effective instructional materials and learning experiences.

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1. Identifying Instructional Goals -  This is the model's starting point, where the desired outcomes of the instruction are determined. These goals define what learners should know or be able to do after completing the instruction.

2. Conducting Instructional Analysis - The instructional designer breaks down the instructional goals into smaller, more manageable parts. This analysis helps identify the skills, knowledge, and attitudes required to achieve the goals.

3. Identifying Entry Behaviors and Learner Characteristics - This step involves understanding the learners' existing knowledge, skills, and attitudes to the learning experience. It helps tailor the instruction to meet the learners' needs, abilities, and learning styles.

4. Writing Performance Objectives - Performance objectives are specific, measurable statements describing what learners can do upon completing the instruction. They are derived from the instructional analysis and are aligned with the instructional goals.

5. Developing Assessment Instruments -  This involves creating tools and methods for assessing whether the learners have achieved the instructional goals. These assessments are based on the performance objectives and can include tests, assignments, projects, or other evaluation methods.

6. Developing Instructional Strategy - This step involves planning the teaching methods, learning activities, and delivery modalities that will be used to achieve the instructional goals. This includes decisions about the sequence of content, types of activities, and the use of media and technology.

7. Developing and Selecting Instructional Materials - Based on the instructional strategy, this step involves creating or selecting appropriate materials and resources for the instruction. This can include textbooks, multimedia resources, online content, and other instructional aids.

8. Designing and Conducting Formative Evaluation - Formative evaluation is an ongoing process that involves testing and refining the instructional materials and strategies. This is done to ensure they are effective and to make adjustments as needed based on feedback from learners and other stakeholders.

9. Revising Instruction - Based on the feedback from formative evaluation, this step involves making necessary revisions to the instruction. This is a critical phase where improvements are made to enhance the effectiveness of the learning experience.

10. Conducting Summative Evaluation - This final step involves evaluating the effectiveness of the instruction after it has been implemented. The summative evaluation assesses whether the instructional goals were met and determines the impact of the instruction on the target audience.

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IMPLICATIONS FOR INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN

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The Dick and Carey Model significantly impacts instructional design through its systematic and comprehensive framework. Its holistic approach ensures that every learning experience component aligns with and contributes to the overall educational objectives. This model underscores the importance of focusing on learner needs. By emphasizing the analysis of learner characteristics and entry behaviors, instructional designers are encouraged to create content tailored to their audience's specific needs, abilities, and backgrounds. This personalized approach enhances learner engagement and efficacy.

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The model's rigorous approach to goal-setting and performance objective development is another critical implication. Requiring specific, measurable objectives ensures that instructional design is grounded in clear, achievable outcomes. This focus on quantifiable goals not only aids in creating focused content but also in developing practical assessment tools. The alignment of objectives with assessment methods ensures that evaluations accurately reflect whether the instructional goals are met, leading to more effective and accountable educational practices.

 

Additionally, the Dick and Carey Model promotes continuous improvement through its emphasis on formative and summative evaluations. Formative evaluation allows for ongoing adjustments to the instructional materials and strategies, enhancing the learning experience in real time. Summative evaluation, on the other hand, provides a comprehensive understanding of the instruction's overall effectiveness, informing future instructional design decisions.

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Incorporating technology effectively is another implication of this model. The model's approach to selecting and utilizing instructional materials and media is crucial in the contemporary educational landscape. It encourages educators to integrate appropriate technology and multimedia resources, making the learning experience more engaging and relevant.

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Lastly, the Dick and Carey Model has implications for collaborative development in instructional design. Outlining a straightforward process facilitates collaboration among educators, instructional designers, subject matter experts, and other stakeholders. This collaborative approach ensures a more diverse perspective in the design process, leading to richer and more inclusive educational content.

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In summary, the Dick and Carey Model profoundly influences instructional design by promoting a learner-centered, objective-driven, and continuously improving approach. Its framework guides the creation of practical, relevant, and engaging educational experiences, making it a pivotal model in instructional design.

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STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS IN HIGHER EDUCATION

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Strengths:

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• Systematic Approach - The model's structured, step-by-step process ensures that each aspect of the instructional design is thoroughly considered. This systematic approach is particularly beneficial in higher education, where complex topics often require careful unpacking and structuring to facilitate learning.

• Alignment of Educational Elements - The model emphasizes aligning goals, instruction, and assessment. This alignment is crucial in higher education to ensure that learning outcomes are effectively met and that assessments accurately measure student learning.

• Focus on Learner Analysis - By emphasizing the understanding of learner characteristics and prior knowledge, the model helps create instruction more tailored to the needs of a diverse student body, a common feature in higher education.

• Facilitation of Technology Integration - The model's approach to selecting instructional materials and media is conducive to integrating technology in teaching, an increasingly important aspect of modern higher education.

• Encouragement of Continuous Improvement - Through its formative and summative evaluation stages, the model promotes a culture of continuous improvement in instructional practices, which is vital for the dynamic and evolving nature of higher education.

 

Limitations:

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• Time-Consuming Process -  The comprehensive nature of the Dick and Carey Model can make the instructional design process time-consuming. This can be a significant drawback in higher education, where faculty often balance teaching with research and administrative duties.

• Less Flexibility - The model's structured approach might limit flexibility in designing courses that require more adaptability or in situations where rapid development of instructional materials is needed.

• Resource Intensive - Implementing all stages of the model effectively can require significant resources, including expertise in instructional design, which might not always be readily available in all higher education institutions.

• Potential Overemphasis on Instructional Design -  The model's focus on detailed instructional planning might inadvertently underplay the importance of other aspects of teaching, such as the instructor's role in facilitating discussions or managing classroom dynamics.

• Challenges in Addressing Diverse Learning Styles - While the model encourages learner analysis, it might not fully account for the diverse learning styles and preferences that are especially prevalent in higher education's varied and multicultural environment.