http://www.langevin.com/blog/tag/instructional-design/

      http://www.informl.com/2009/02/16/agile-instructional-design/

        http://www.ted/blog.com

 Langevin Learning Services is one of the largest and most successful “Train-the-Trainer” companies. It is not my purpose to be an advertisement, but I have found this blog to be a very valuable resource for instructional design and training. Examples of blog posts include: “Gimme a Break” Adult Learners and Retention “The Magic is in the Review” “Let’s All Chart!” The design is clear, and easily navigated. There is a wealth of information available for the novice to the consummate professional. The Informal Learning Blog from Jay Cross and Internet Time Group is juxtaposed against the Langevin Blog to highlight the contrast between the two. Jay Cross, in his posting, “Agile Instruction Design,” asks the question, “Do others agree that instructional design would benefit from incorporating the principles of agile?” I find this to be a stimulating and necessary question, especially if considered within the context of constructivism.

While based on making the design of software more efficient and cost effective, the concepts are easily transferable to instructional design.

Important among the principles are:

• Agile methodologies generally promote a project management process that encourages
• Frequent inspection and adaptation
•  Leadership philosophy that encourages teamwork, self-organization and accountability
• Best practices that allow for rapid delivery Business approach that aligns development with customer needs

Considering that Instructional Design was initiated during World War II, the ADDIE design is a valuable and revered workhorse. New technologies and learning theories, however, combined with digital breakthroughs of the 21st century might require instructional designers to consider new processes and a paradigm shift. I found this blog to be very compelling food for thought. As well, it was cleanly designed and easy to navigate. TED (Technology, Entertainment, and Design) is an academic organization. I am not certain that TED’s blog would be considered a conventional instructional design or training blog. However, it is at the cutting edge of technology and design. I consider it “e-Brain Food.” Some of the offerings on the blog include: Richard Barniuk: “Goodbye, textbooks; hello, open source learning” Jeff Hawkins: “Brain science is about to fundamentally change computing” Ken Robinson: “Do schools kill creativity?” I never fail to leave this blog without having learned something new, and being excited about design and training.