Reflecting on a Research Design Featuring LODAS

Since the first publication of the Learning Object Design and Sequencing (LODAS) model of instructional design, the elements of the model have remained relatively abstract and academic. In my review of the literature, I haven’t yet found an instance where LODAS was actually used to design and develop an instructional product, computer-based or otherwise. That suggests to me that there is room for further research into the applicability of LODAS.

The lack of relevant instances of application suggest a couple of things to me. First, perhaps LODAS isn’t fully developed as a model, and it is not ready yet to be implemented. Another suggestion is that upon application, practitioners who use LODAS find that it isn’t suitable for use as a model. In either case, additional research could be done to identify the deficiency and consider how to address it as the concepts behind LODAS seem to me to be relevant to the growing potential of technology-based instruction.

In reflection, I think maybe I didn’t understand the actual assignment as well as I should have. The question is asked “Does it (the research design) all align to the learning theory that guided the instructional design?” I’m not sure that my research design followed the theory so much as it is principally concerned with the application of the theory. However, the ultimate purpose is to design a case in which the LODAS design model could be used to develop a computer-aided instruction module. Tacitly, it should be understood that the model itself will define how the case is designed. However, the design of the research I proposed doesn’t take into account the design elements of LODAS, at least, not adequately enough to explicitly demonstrate that the research follows the model itself. However, now I’m caught in circumlocution… Again, this seems to indicate that maybe my understanding of the assignment wasn’t quite on point. Ultimately, I’m not sure if I will actively pursue this avenue of research in the future. I think that there is potential, especially as the power of databases and artificial intelligence continue to grow and develop. However, my current interest is leaning toward the application of AI and deep learning models to improve learning and assessment. Perhaps LODAS might be used to prepare the instructional content for interface with the AI system. That would be cool.