Introduction into the course of “Methodology of teaching disciplines of specialty

Characteristics of good educational design

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  Supports students to make sense of new information by relating it to something they already know or to something they have already experienced (Gagne, Briggs & Wager , 2003). That is, it will support a constructivist approach to learning (as we explored in ‘Introduction to Student Learning in Higher Education’).
  
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  Acknowledges learner diversity. It achieves this by considering the needs of the cohort of learners, designing activities that will engage them and support their learning. Technology is integral to the design process. Good design makes informed decisions about how technology is chosen and used. Equally important is adopting a holistic perspective and considering all aspects of the learning environment.
  
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  Seldom involves working (designing and developing) from the beginning. Unlike architecture and construction, educational design is rarely constructed on a “green-field” (piece of land that has not previously been built on) site. Instead, educational courses, materials, resources, assessment, and curriculum are often in place and design work is therefore more often, and more accurately referred to as re-design work (Goodyear & Dimitriadis, 2013).