Ina Treadwell
University of Pretoria, South Africa

ABSTRACT:

David Merrill's 5 Star Instructional Design Rating is based on what he calls "First Principles of Instruction". According to these principles learning is facilitated by activation, demonstration, application, integration and problem solving.

In developing a CD-ROM on the "Physical Examination", demonstrated on Thursday, an attempt was made to incorporate Merrill's principles to enhance self-directed learning. The courseware is for medical students who are expected to have the skills needed for a general physical examination in the second year of Study. The discussion will start with outlining Merrill’s principles, listing how we applied them on our project and then examining whether this resulted in a better program. Participants in this breakout are invited to try to apply the principles to their previous projects and discuss whether the ratings help in either design or evaluating their software or software by others. While the discussion will begin with one person’s experience, it should serve to open discussion on evaluation of instructional design in medical software.

Ref: see http://www.id2.usu.edu/Papers/5FirstPrinciples.PDF

This discussion will focus on how useful a systematic examination of design principles is in developing a medical education software. This will be an opportunity to discuss Merrill's principles of instruction and to rate courseware using his 5 star rating scale.

Ina Treadwell
Skills Laboratory
Faculty of Medicine
PO Box 667
Pretoria
0001
Phone: 27-12-354 1182
Fax: 27-12-354 1390
Email: itreadwe@medic.up.ac.za