Instructional Design
Syllabus
Student Support and Calendar Information
So you have all key information available to you off-line, it is highly recommended that you print the following items for your reference:
This Syllabus, including the Course Schedule that is linked on this page as a PDF
Course Calendar
Support, Guidelines, and Policies
Credit Hours
5 quarter hours
Walden University assigns credit hours based on the number and type of assignments that enable students to achieve the course learning objectives. In general, each semester credit equals about 42 hours of total student work and each quarter credit equals about 28 hours of total student work. This time requirement represents an approximate average for undergraduate work and the minimum expectations for graduate work. The number and kind of activities estimated to fulfill time requirements will vary by degree level and student learning style, and by student familiarity with the delivery method and course content.
Course Description
Students in this course are presented with an overview of instructional design, including its historical foundations, theories, and models. Students analyze learning theories in relation to instructional design theories and their philosophy toward teaching. Students critically analyze and apply taxonomies, course outcomes, learning objectives, instructional strategies, and assessment and evaluation approaches. Students also analyze challenges and future trends in instructional design for higher education and consider their role as agents of positive social change.
Course Prerequisites
PSYC 8762 Teaching of Psychology
Course Outcomes
Evaluate the historical foundations of instructional design
Analyze instructional theories and models
Analyze learning theories in relation to instructional theories and models
Conduct instructional analyses
Analyze taxonomies of learning in relation to teaching philosophy, delivery of instruction, course outcomes, and learning objectives
Apply course outcomes and learning objectives to a syllabus
Analyze instructional strategies in relation to delivery of instruction
Evaluate assessment and evaluation practices
Apply research and future trends to delivery of instruction
Click on the following link to access the Outcomes and Alignment chart:
Document: PSYC 8763/PSYC 6763 Outcomes and Alignment Chart (PDF)
Course Materials
Please visit the University bookstore via your Walden student portal to ensure you are obtaining the correct version of any course texts and/or materials noted in the following section. When you receive your materials, make sure that all required items are included.
Course Text
There is no textbook to purchase for this course. All readings (journal articles, websites, book excerpts, etc.) are assigned throughout the course and may be found within each week.
Other readings (documents, websites, PowerPoints, etc.) are assigned throughout the course and may be found within each week.
Course Readings List
The Course Readings List contains all the required Walden Library resources for this course. Please click on the following link to access the list:
PSYC 8763/PSYC 6763 Course Readings List
Media
Assigned course media elements may be found in one or more weeks of the course and are available via a streaming media player or a hyperlink to the individual item.
Course Assignments
Online Discussion
The exchange of ideas between colleagues engaged in scholarly inquiry is a key aspect of graduate-level learning and is a requisite activity in this course.
Requirements: You are expected to participate at least two separate days a week in the weekly Discussion area. Discussion topics/questions are provided in the Discussion area in the left navigation bar. In addition, you are expected to respond to your fellow students’ postings. To count as participation, responses need to be thoughtful; that is, they must refer to the week's readings, relevant issues in the news, information obtained from other sources, and/or ideas expressed in other class members’ postings. Where appropriate, you should use references to support your position. Each week has one or two Discussion questions. The Discussion questions require a response to other students’ postings; these responses should be no more than two paragraphs long.
In weeks in which there is one Discussion, postings for the Discussion question for the week are due by Day 4, and responses are due by Day 6. In weeks in which there are two Discussions, postings for the first Discussion question for the week are due by Day 3, and responses are due by Day 5. Postings for the second Discussion question for the week are due by Day 4, and responses are due by Day 6. It is important to adhere to the weekly time frame to allow others ample time to respond to your posting.
All Discussion postings need to be made in each week’s Discussion area of the course. Please do not e-mail postings to the Instructor or other students. Initial Discussion postings should also be submitted in the online classroom. See the Discussion area for specific instructions.
Discussions will be graded according to the Discussion Rubric found in the Course Information area.
Assignments
An Assignment is often a writing assignment submitted to the Instructor for evaluation. Complete assignment directions, including how and where to submit the assignment and the due date, are in the Assignments area. Please note that you should keep copies of your Assignments on your computer in case of any technical difficulties.
Information on scholarly writing may be found in the APA Manual and at the Walden Writing Center website.
Walden University expects you to act with integrity and honesty in your academic courses. See the Guidelines and Policies and Academic Integrity areas for more details.
Check the Course Information area for any rubrics relating to the Assignments.
Grading Criteria and Total Components of a Grade
Course grades will be based on participation (Discussion postings) and completion of Assignments as listed below. Please refer to the Course Information area of the online classroom for specific grading criteria for each activity.
Course Work Total Points Percentage
Participate in Weekly Discussions*
11 @ 10 points each
110 33%
Assignments**
Weeks 3, 5, and 9 @ 60 points each
180 55%
Assignment**
Week 11
40 12%
Total 330 100%
* Each Discussion is worth a total of 10 points (6 points per initial post, 2 points per response post to a classmate, and 2 points for writing for a total of 10 points) per the Discussion Posting and Response Rubric located in the Course Information area. Weeks 1 through 11 have one Discussion question (one required post and response).
** There are three Assignments worth 60 points and one that is worth 40 points. For more information, see the PhD Psychology Assignment Rubric located in the Course Information area.
Grading Scale for Final Grade
Grade Points Percent (%)
A 297–330 90–100
B 264–296 80–89
C 231–263 70–79
D 198–230 60–69
F 0–197 0–59
Feedback Schedule
The Instructor will log on to the course Discussion areas 3–5 days a week to evaluate and respond to class Discussions. Unless there is a specific question, your Instructor will not respond to every posting from each student. However, the expectation is that the Instructor will respond individually to at least two-thirds of the students each week. The Instructor will read every posting and expects all students to read every posting, including the Instructor’s postings and classmates’ postings. Frequently, the Instructor will choose to respond to a particular posting because that posting covers important issues.
The Instructor will respond to any specific course-related questions or concerns within 48 hours of receiving them in an e-mail or in a course posting.
Assignments will be returned by Day 5 of the following week, allowing you to incorporate feedback into the assignments for subsequent weeks.
If needed, you may e-mail the Instructor to set up a time for a telephone conference at any time during the course. You are responsible for routinely checking the Announcements for any changes to the aforementioned feedback schedule.
Course Procedures
You are expected to read the overall Syllabus and all Learning Resources, Discussions, and Assignments for each week. Additionally, several weeks include a media segment that you are expected to view. Complete all assignments by the specified due date. It is in your best interest to complete work for the current week, and not to “jump ahead” to future weeks.
Preferred Methods for Delivering Assignments
Submitting Course Postings to the Weekly Discussion Areas
Be sure that you post to the correct Discussion area each week. Do not e-mail postings to the Instructor. For all initial Discussion postings, make sure that the first sentence of your posting reads Main Question Post. For your responses to others’ response postings, make sure that the first sentence of your response reads Response. These actions will ensure easily identifiable subject lines for your postings and responses.
Submitting Assignments and Projects
Assignments and Projects are submitted to an Assignment link and named according to the week in which the Assignment or Project is submitted. Directions for naming each Assignment or Project are included with each Assignment link. Please be sure that all written Assignments and Projects are saved and submitted as a “.doc” or “.rtf” file unless otherwise indicated.
E-mailing Your Instructor
When e-mailing the Instructor, please use the following heading for your e–mail subject line: last name + your first initial + course number (e.g., if your name is Sally Ride, your e-mail subject line should read: RideS8763), so that your Instructor will recognize and read your e-mail.
Policies on Late Assignments
Discussion Postings
Discussion postings submitted late within the week in which they are due, but without prior agreement, outside of an emergency absence, will result in a 10% deduction per day.
No credit will be given for Discussion postings made after the week in which they are due unless prior arrangements are made with the Instructor. Exceptions will be made only for those rare situations that legitimately prevent a student from posting on time.
Assignments
Assignments are due by Day 7 of the week in which they are assigned unless otherwise noted. Failure to meet the deadline without prior approval will result in a 3-point deduction per day. Any Assignment submitted after Day 4 of the week following that in which it was assigned will receive zero points.
Students With Disabilities
Students in this course who have a disability that might prevent them from fully demonstrating their abilities should contact the director of Disability Services at disability@mail.waldenu.edu or at 1-800-925-3368, ext. 312-1205 and +1-612-925-3368 or https://www.waldenu.edu/contact for international toll-free numbers as soon as possible to initiate disability verification and discuss accommodations that may be necessary to ensure full participation in the successful completion of course requirements.
Classroom Participation
In accordance with U.S. Department of Education guidance regarding class participation, Walden University requires that all students submit at least one of their required Week 1 assignments (which includes posting to the Discussion Board) within each course(s) during the first 7 calendar days of class. For courses with two-week units, posting to the Discussion Board by Day 7 meets this requirement. The first calendar day of class is the official start date of the course as posted on your myWalden academic page.
Assignments submitted prior to the official start date will not count toward your participation.
Financial Aid cannot be released without class participation as defined above.
Students who are taking their first class with Walden and do not submit at least one of their required Week 1 assignments (or at least one Discussion post) by the end of the 7th day will be administratively withdrawn from the university.
Students who have already taken and successfully completed at least one or more class(es) with Walden, and who do not participate within the first 7 days, will be dropped from that class.
If you have any questions about your assignments, or you are unable to complete your assignments, please contact your Faculty Member.