Week 4 September 16 2010

Compare and contrast instructional design process and interaction design process. How are they similar? How are they different? What qualities do instructional designers and interaction designers have in common? How are they different?

In looking at the ways, that instructional design and interaction design are similar in their process is that they have to design for clients or learners. They are doing the designing because both represent a need of action. Another similarity is that they both have a certain process or steps that they have to do in order for the design process to be complete. Another similarity of interaction design and instructional design is that they both have to display quality of beauty as well as functionality clarity and efficiency. In this case, it means that in looking at the instructional design viewpoint that the learning objectives are good quality and that the instructional materials are clear for clarity and very efficient in the lesson or concept they students will learn (Buchanan, D. 2000). It goes the same for interaction design in that they look at the human interaction with the website. Another similarity is that both of these processes use usability testing in one way or another. For example when you doing instructional design you get feedback for how the course is going and the instructional materials used. In interaction design, they get look at the website and see if the user like the way the information is conveyed. They both interact and have some design process in some way with computer technology and how to make it better for the product or learner.

In looking at how interaction design and instructional design are different is that interaction design is a form of products that you are trying to sell. Instructional design is looking at an educational setting and not trying to sell something to the user. In interaction design, they are anticipating how the products will mediate human interaction and human relationship (Reimann, R. (2001). This is not the case in instructional designers in that there is human interaction but the instructor is not anticipating how it will have an effect on the learner relationship with others. They are more concerned with how it affects that learner learning style and not learner so much as a whole. Another difference is that you have to learn your environment very quickly and effectively. Another difference to instructional design as oppose to interaction design is it may take some instructional designers not to mention the learners in the course to get familiar with the new technology that they are adapting to. Another example is that it really, only follows the IE of the ADDIE model in instructional design. The ADDIE model means Analyze, Design, Develop(ment), Implementation, and Evaluation. In this case, interaction design does not really analyze who there audience is as much as instructional designer in my opinion. They do not take into account all the different learning styles people have when doing interaction design. They just are looking for the result.

The qualities (traits) that they both have in common (similar) are that they have to look at human interaction and performance of whatever they are creating. They both emphases with the user and try to get their needs across and their aspirations (Reimann, R. 2001). This means that they are there for the user when problems arise. They both from an understanding of how and why people desire to use them to use the technology they require. In addition, as an advocate for the users and their goals of using computers and technology. Another aspect is as gestalts, not simply as sets of features and attributes, by looking to the future-seeing things, as they might be, not necessarily, as they currently are (Reimann, R. 2001). They are both passionate about helping change the world through technologies and learning. Another good trait they both have is they do not mind making mistakes along the way of the design process. They are also always looking to the future for change in both design aspects. They are both very similar styles in their ways they look at the people connection of their audience and work very hard at what they do.

In looking at the difference in qualities or traits in both the instructional designer and interaction designer is that the interaction designer is very technical in they way they design their materials. They also deal with many programming issues. The interaction designer is able to solve complex problems where the instructional may not be able to solve the problem on the spot (Reimann, R. (2001). The interaction designer is more about “comprehensive and pleasing” (Klein 2001) whereas the instructional designer is all about how the learner or user sees the material and gets the concepts. Another trait that I noticed a big difference is that they are different in how they use the term “user.” They both have different ways of defining what design is. The quality I would use there is differentiated definition of the term design. Another quality that is different is that one is quick learner of the material, which is the interaction designer, and the instructional designer is at a slower pace.