Example of Content Analysis

I created the objectives listed in the following section after considering the overall goals of this particular class session. The amount of material presented in this lecture would probably be considered cognitive overload for most situations, but since this was an ongoing class, I wanted to give an overview of the information before allowing students to work through module summaries, articles, and video clips in Canvas. As the instructor, I felt that my most important task—especially in this abbreviated course—was to facilitate students’ understanding of the “big picture;” I wanted them to connect learning theories to instructional strategies and application in their workplace.

Objectives

1.      Explain the relationship between learning theory and instructional models

2.      Describe the major tasks in the ID process

3.      Identify learning theories in sample instructional materials

4.      Apply an instructional model to a real-world learning task. 

Table 2: Objective, Content, and Evaluation Alignment

Objective	Content	Evaluation Method
Explain the relationship between learning theory and instructional models.	Video: Why We Need Instructional Design Learning vs. Instructional Theory Complementary topics—descriptive and prescriptive Instructional Design Learning theory à instructional theory à instructional models and methods Major Learning Theories & ID Summaries of Behaviorism, Cognitivism, Social Learning theory, and Constructivism and the relationship of each to ID Eclectic Instructional Design Model Using multiple theories to best fit the instruction to the learners and context Gagné’s Instructional Theory 5 types of learning outcomes that differ in learning conditions Internal and external conditions	Assessed in the final presentation and some guidance was provided in the discussion over dinner. In the final presentation, evidence of learning was implicit and explicit. Students were asked to apply a learning theory to a problem at Merck, then derive the appropriate instructional strategy from this; therefore, proper application demonstrated the knowledge gain. Students were also asked to explicitly state how their instructional decisions were influenced by learning theory.
Describe the major tasks in the Instructional Design process.	What is ID? Fundamental processes of instructional design Bloom’s Taxonomy Levels of thinking and learning skills Learning domains and objectives Objectives and learning evaluation Domains of Learning Gagné’s Learning Taxonomy, learning domains, and KSAs Gagné’s 9 Instructional Events Instructional methods and aligned cognitive processes ADDIE Framework 5 stages of the ID process: Analysis, Design, Develop, Implement, Evaluate	Not explicitly evaluated, but assessed during discussions of applicability at dinner. This topic was explored further in the remaining class periods, in which our time together was used to “tie everything together.”
Identify learning theories in sample instructional materials.	Identifying Learning Theories in ID NASA Spacesuit Module	Activity: work through learning module and ask the class to identify learning theories and instructional strategies; they were also asked to explain why they gave a particular answer.
Apply an instructional model to a real-world learning task.	ID: Merrill’s First Principles Facilitate learning by focusing instruction on  a real-world problem Many ID models contain 4 phases of learning ID: Keller’s ARCS Model Increasing motivation in learners through 4 strategies ID: Barron’s Motivation Equation Steps for instructors to increase learning motivation through influence on 3 factors Identifying Learning Theories in ID NASA Spacesuit Module	Discussion over dinner: examples from Merck and how they could be addressed with information we covered in class.