Instructional Design

Instructional Design for the Problem Sets

The Tutorial Document

The tutorial document provides help for solving the problem. In this section we emphasize learning with understanding. Learning with understanding results in superior retention and better transfer of the knowledge to similar tasks.

As learning is achieved by organizing material and by creating images, patterns, and associations, the content of the tutorial should be clear, well organized, adequately illustrated, and meaningful to the students.

Guidelines for writing tutorial

Repeat the question at the top and, if necessary, the list of possible answers to help students narrow their focus as they read through the tutorial.
Organize the material clearly.
Separate sub sections with highlighted titles.
Help clarify misconceptions before introducing new concepts.
Create associations between the new information presented with something familiar or relevant to the participants whenever possible.
Use navigation to suggest looking up related items to compare and contrast.
Avoid long blocks of text. If a lot of text is necessary, break it down into sections.
Present information through different means of representations.
Use illustration whenever helpful to support the text.
Choose simple images over good looking complex ones if they more clearly illustrate the essence of the information.
Use animations or moving images only to enhance understanding.
Avoid using animations instead of verbal descriptions if students should be learning the terminology.
Be creative.
Be considerate of those who will be using the program via a slow modem.

The Biology Project
University of Arizona
Monday, October 6, 1997
lapointe@u.arizona.edu