Instructional Design is the systematic process of translating general principles of learning and instruction into plans for instructional materials and learning. Instructional design is the practice of arranging media and content to help learners and teachers transfer knowledge most effectively. The process consists broadly of determining the current state of learner understanding, defining the end goal of instruction, and creating some media-based "intervention" to assist in the transition. Ideally the process is informed by pedagogically tested theories of learning and may take place in student-only, teacher-led or community-based settings.
The outcome of this instruction may be directly observable and scientifically measured or completely hidden and assumed. As a field, Instructional Design is historically and traditionally rooted in cognitive and behavioral psychology. However, because it is not a regulated field, and therefore not well understood, the term 'instructional design' has been co-opted by or confused with a variety of other ideologically-based and / or professional fields. Instrctional Design is that branch of awareness concerned with research and theory about instructional strategies and the process for developing and implementing those strategies.
