Towards a Blended Programme for Arabic and Other Less Commonly Taught Languages (LCTLs) in the South African Higher Education Context

Disruptive technologies are widely used in education today. They aim to develop the knowledge, skills, and competencies of students. The field of applied linguistics, in general, and foreign language teaching, in particular, have benefited immensely from the developments taking place in computer-assisted language learning (CALL) and mobile-assisted language learning (MALL). However, meaningful learning cannot be achieved by using technology indiscriminately; an understanding of educational theories and key instructional design models is urgently required. The present study argues that the adoption of established instructional design models will yield effective learning materials not only for the less commonly taught languages (LCTLs) but also for language classrooms in general. It investigates the use of ADDIE instructional design model for designing and developing a blended syllabus for teaching Arabic as a foreign language in South African institutions of higher learning. The study also deals with the attitudes of the students towards the designed blended syllabus. The proposed syllabus is based on a wide range of web-based tools and e-learning specifications such as Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI) and Shareable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM). This study serves as a guideline for developing instructional materials for teaching Arabic, as well as other languages.

Advancing a New General Education Curriculum Through a Faculty Community of Practice

Many institutions of higher education are reimagining their general education curriculum or adding new, innovative programs to their course offerings. Faculty driving such innovation, while experts in their disciplines, often lack experience with instructional design and the benefits it subsequently brings to these types of programs. At the same time, process-driven, traditional approaches to instructional design may not feel relevant to some faculty. In this chapter, the authors describe the Learning Design Collaborative, a new model for instructional design built on the principles of intentional learning, authentic learning, and student engagement. Placed within the context of a faculty learning community, this experience has been used with faculty developing courses for the first-year signature experience of a new general education curriculum. Implications of this initiative suggest the importance of continually evaluating instructional design models, opportunities for implementing the model in other programs, and a relationship with other emerging instructional design models.

An evaluation on instructional systems design

Instructional design and instructional systems design concepts different from the direction of the field lead to confusion as it includes similar use cases from time to time. Instructional design models have different characteristics, and in different areas, in line with the needs of nature according to the purpose of alternating the use of different models, it affects the efficiency. Each model is developed that fixing the underlying spots is the best way to a need for designs designed which varies depending on the model. Some models of the objectives underlying the selection and use of different models have the highest level while improving strategies constitute a more important structure. With this assessment, the instructional design, instructional systems design, systems approach and instructional system design models, by examining the historical development of these models and their distinctive features, will be explained in connection with curriculum development. Thus, referring to the different points of each model and specific model, with respect to instructional systems design, the difference in instructional design, space and design process is studied. Keywords: Instructional systems design, instructional design, instructional design models.

Using Instructional Design Goals to Appropriately Classify Instructional Design Models

This chapter probes an assertion by Gustafson and Branch (2007) that it is easier to classify instructional models when guided by the needs that call for them. If this is so, identifying appropriate instructional design models for various instructional situations can be greatly simplified. Gustafson and Branch (1997) note that each of the numerous instructional models targets one or more of three types of instructional situations: the Classroom, Product, and Systems situations. In evaluating the assertion, the chapter examines pertinent questions that look at some assumptions guiding the choice of instructional models, the three design situations identified, and some characteristics that separate the various design instances. In the end, it becomes obvious that the instructional design professional will do a better job of classifying instructional models based on a thorough understanding of instructional situations and guided by characteristics of the situation.