Instructional Design - what the heck is it?

DESIGN :
In my mind, design implies a group of items that are coordinated together to form a single objective. One designs a house by coordinating all the peices that form that house, same with interior design. A lack of design implies haphazard application of various items - which may or may not acheive a desired goal.
INSTRUCTION:
Instruction is the planned presentation of information for the purpose of learning. Learning is the acquisition of knowledge of procedures, facts and/or concepts.
INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN
Therefore instructional design is the planned coordination of analysis, design, development, implementation and evaluation, and all their sub-parts, for the purpose of presenting information to be learned.
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In other words, Instructional Design is a well thought out plan for teaching something to a given audience.

ANALYSIS.
The first step, analysis is the studying portion of the design. Deciding on what is the goal that is desired, and breaking down that goal into minute steps, deciding which ones one can assume the target audience already can perform and which ones need to be taught.

More to come as we progress in the class.....