The ADDIE model is the most widely used instructional design framework, providing a systematic five-phase process for creating effective training programmes. The five phases are: Analysis (define the learning problem and audience needs), Design (plan the course structure, objectives, and assessments), Development (build the actual content and materials), Implementation (deliver the training), and Evaluation (measure effectiveness and feed findings back into improvement).
ADDIE is iterative rather than linear — evaluation findings continuously feed back into the analysis phase, creating a loop of improvement. Most eLearning courses built in authoring tools like Articulate Storyline or Adobe Captivate follow an ADDIE process, even when practitioners don’t explicitly label it as such. Some modern L&D teams have moved toward more agile approaches like SAM (Successive Approximation Model), but ADDIE remains the foundational framework taught in instructional design curricula globally.
The 5 Phases of ADDIE
- Analysis: Who are the learners? What do they need to be able to do? What’s the gap between current and desired performance?
- Design: What learning objectives will the course address? What sequence, structure, and assessment approach will be used?
- Development: Create the course content, media, interactions, and assessments based on the design blueprint
- Implementation: Deploy the course to learners via the LMS; train facilitators if applicable
- Evaluation: Measure learner performance, satisfaction, and business impact; use findings to improve
See also: Instructional Design, Training Needs Analysis, Kirkpatrick Model
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