S3E1: Merrill's First Principles of Instruction - Part 1

The Virtual Instructor Podcast

The Principles of Instruction for Creating and Facilitating A Successful Course

If you are an instructor, you are likely to be an industry expert already, and understanding how the course fits in the reality of what you want the student to become is key. Finding out what the program emphasizes, the performance indicators, and the concepts the students need to be competent based on industry standards and the institution’s mission will help you understand what makes it work and what doesn’t. A successful course is subjective to the mission of the institution and what the industry says is a confident, competent, and accomplished practitioner. It also aligns the students with the field of work, which is critical to their success, and it goes for every course.

Join the conversation with your host, Dr. Tim Stafford of St. Thomas University, as he shares about Dr. M. David Merrill's work on the First Principles Of Instruction and why it is important for you as an instructor to know and understand it.

Tune in!

During this episode, you will learn about;

[00:01] Introduction to the show

[01:14] Today’s focus: The First Principle of Instruction by David Merrill

[01:36] When Dr.Tm Stafford was first introduced to David Merrill’s work and his transformation

[04:54] The foundational idea behind David Merrill’s principle of instruction

[07:07] What to review when creating or writing a course

[09:44] Aligning the programs with the school and the industry’s mission standards

[10:44] Approaching courses in a way that aligns students with fieldwork competencies

[12:53] Enriching your approach by understanding where a course sits in the overall body of education.

[14:14] Identifying competence and performance indicators to point to when building a program or certificate

[15:40] The idea that we should start with when writing a course

[17:57] Ending the show

Notable Quotes

• When you understand what makes instruction work, you also understand when instruction begins to fail and when to go back to the principles.
• A successful program will align with the institution’s mission and the industry’s standards.
• Many people don’t need a four-year degree or a doctorate to become good at something; they need the competency to do it.
• Build courses that are not only measurable but also successful.

Resources Mentioned

Article: Merrill (2002) First Principles of Instruction

Book: First Principles Revised - AECT

Connect With Dr. Tim Stafford

Website: https://www.tmsphd.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tmstaffordphd/

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