Week 3: Structuring Creativity

Creativity is a very subjective matter. Sometimes it can just happen. But what makes it successful is proper structuring. Take for instance J.K.Rowling. She claims that the idea for Harry Potter occured to her in her train journey from Manchester to London and by the time she reached King's Cross, many of the characters had taken shape. Yet, a careful organisation of her ideas for the next five years produced the world's best selling series. I do not know how Rowling organised her ideas but, for us, I have learnt this week that there are Instructional Design Models to help; the ADDIE model which serves as a base for all others, the ASSURE model which is among the latest and the Dick and Carey model which is based on the behaviorist view.

Now, I undestand how as a teacher I can minimize the flaws that most probably would occur in the instructions that I design. ADDIE appears to be the simplest of the three models with five steps; analyze, design, develop. implement and evaluate. Understanding ADDIE does help in understanding the other models.






The ASSURE model which anchored in Gagne's Events of Instruction and highlights contructivism has six stages. What sets it apart from the ADDIE model is the significant fifth stage in which learner participation is required. I can see that this model gives more importance to the process learning rather teaching, thus, the learner needs are considered in every stage.

Finally, the Dick and Carey Model. It sounds much more complicated than th eprevious two though its base is the simple behaviourist theory. The tens stages involved would suggest its complexity easily. In this model, though importance is given to the leaner, what I see is mostly about teaching. The responsibility and choice are laid on the teacher. The teacher seems to act as the ultimate decisin-maker.

I must say here that I do prefer the ASSURE model as it gives more significance to the learner. As a teacher, I would give the choice in te hands of the students and design the instruction based on their needs and interest.