Rapid Prototyping
An Instuctional Design
What it is
Rapid prototyping is a a spiral or layering approach to instructional design, that was developed by Tripp and Bichelmeyer in 1990, and encompasses:
- defining a concept
- making a skeletal prototype
- tesing it
- evaluating the concept
- refining
- testing
- refining
- Continue until implementation of the refined concept
Context for Use
Rapid prototyping can be used instead of conventional methods:
- When complex factors such as communication problems need plasticity or modularity.
- Where there is experience, but a lack of satisfaction with results.
- When there is little experience to draw from
Advantages of Use
- Encourages and requires active student participation in the design process
- Can increase creativiity through quicker feedback
- Errors can be detected earlier
- Reduces development time and cost
- More flexibility
- Results in a better product
Disadvantages of Use
- Does not replicate the real thing
- Can lead to a design-by-repair philosophy
- Does not eliminate the need for front-end analysis
- Cannot substitute completely for paper analysis
- can result in some instructional design problems
- Can lead to premature commitment to a design
- May lead to designs that get out of control