ADDIE Model
A five-phase instructional design framework: Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, and Evaluate.
Also known as: ADDIE, ADDIE framework, Analyze Design Develop Implement Evaluate
Category: Frameworks
Tags: education, instructional-design, frameworks, teaching, curriculum
Explanation
The ADDIE model is the most widely recognized framework in instructional design, providing a systematic five-phase process for creating effective learning experiences. Originally developed for the U.S. military in the 1970s, it has become the foundational methodology across education, corporate training, and online course creation.
## The five phases
### 1. Analyze
- Identify the learning problem or opportunity
- Define the target audience (prior knowledge, motivation, constraints)
- Determine learning goals and performance gaps
- Assess available resources, timeline, and delivery constraints
- Output: needs analysis document
### 2. Design
- Write specific, measurable learning objectives (SWBATS)
- Plan the assessment strategy (how will you know learners achieved the objectives?)
- Select instructional strategies and media
- Sequence content and create a course outline
- Output: design document / course blueprint
### 3. Develop
- Create the actual learning materials: content, activities, assessments
- Build or configure the delivery platform
- Produce media assets (videos, graphics, interactive elements)
- Conduct internal review and quality assurance
- Output: complete course materials ready for pilot
### 4. Implement
- Deliver the instruction to learners
- Train facilitators or set up self-paced systems
- Provide learner support and troubleshooting
- Monitor engagement and collect initial feedback
- Output: delivered learning experience
### 5. Evaluate
- **Formative evaluation**: ongoing assessment during development and delivery to improve the course
- **Summative evaluation**: post-delivery assessment of whether learning objectives were met
- Gather data on learner satisfaction, knowledge gain, and behavior change
- Use findings to revise and improve (feeds back into Analyze)
- Output: evaluation report and improvement plan
## Iterative vs. linear
While often presented as a linear sequence, effective practitioners treat ADDIE as iterative. Each phase can feed back to previous phases, and rapid prototyping approaches (like SAM — Successive Approximation Model) accelerate the cycle by building quick drafts early.
## Criticisms and alternatives
- Can be slow and waterfall-like if applied rigidly
- SAM (Successive Approximation Model) offers a more agile alternative
- Action Mapping (Cathy Moore) focuses on performance outcomes rather than content coverage
- Despite criticisms, ADDIE's phases remain relevant even when using alternative methodologies
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