Instructional Design Models and Theories: Individualized Instruction Model

Instructional Design Models and Theories Individualized Instruction Model
Summary: The Keller Plan, which is often referred to as “The Personalized System of Instruction”, was developed in the middle sixties by Fred Keller, J. Gilmour Sherman, and a number of other researchers and educational theorists, and relies upon the Individualized Instruction Model.

The Quintessential of The Individualized Instruction Model

The key idea behind the Individualized Instruction Model is that learners will not only be able to better understand the materials that are being presented, but that they will be able to effectively retain information for much longer. Those who have the ability to grasp a particular concept in a short amount of time can move on to the next subject, while those who are having a difficulty understanding the concept can move at a slower pace, in order to delve further into the topic. As such, every learner is given the opportunity to get the most out of the experience, even if he/she is in a group with other learners who possess different skill levels or strengths.

Another key application for the Individualized Instruction Model within the educational environment is to offer learners of various skill levels and learning styles different learning materials. For example, if a learner is more of an auditory one, instructors can use multimedia presentations via the computer, which he/she can complete at his/her own pace. On the other hand, if a learner is more of a visual one, then the instructor can use graphic textbooks to better illustrate the points of the concept.

The Method of Individualized Instruction Model

Individualized instruction is an instructional method tailored to fit the educational needs and skills of an individual learner. This involves changing the pace the information is delivered, the methods through which the content is offered, and the materials distributed.

According to the Individualized Instruction Model, learners are provided with in depth and effective educational materials, such as interactive media or textbooks. Lecture time and presentations are usually kept to a minimum, and learners are encouraged to review, research, and learn the materials on their own. This allows each learner to acquire knowledge at his/her own pace, and is particularly useful in classrooms that have a high learner to teacher ratio.

The 4 Principles of the Individualized Instruction Model

The main principles of the Keller Plan and the Individualized Instruction Model are the following:

  1. Learners should complete the work on their own, in order to grasp all concepts.
  2. Assessments should be performed at the end of each section, to determine if the concept has been “mastered” by the learner. This is known as the “unit-perfection requirement”.
  3. Learners are encouraged to use the written materials. Presentations are generally only utilized as a supplementary instructional tool.
  4. Proctors are supposed to be helping learners and to incorporate a social element into the learning process.

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