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Applying an agile approach like SAM can be difficult when your environment doesn’t encourage rapid feedback or flexible processes. This flavor of SAM is a simple model with three iterations of the familiar instructional design steps of evaluation, design, and development. Using this approach, everyone’s ideas and assumptions can be discussed, prototyped, and tested early on, bringing you closer to a usable product more quickly. During this phase, the instructional designer will also identify the key stakeholders and establish a project team. This team will typically include subject matter experts, instructional designers, project managers, and other relevant individuals.
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It is described as a “waterfall approach” since you basically flow from one step to another in succession. Let’s imagine how three iterative loops might look like in SAM when you’re developing your online course from scratch. If you already have a well-defined process and are working with a larger team, ADDIE might bring more clarity to the design. If you want to produce an online course quickly, with lots of visibility and iterations, SAM might be a better fit. The goal at the end of the Develop step is to have enough new ideas, comments, and suggestions to go back to the first step (Evaluate) and start the SAM cycle again.
SAM Model: An Agile Approach To Instructional Design
Educational Institution Y adopted the SAM Model to develop an online course on entrepreneurship. In the Preparation phase, instructional designers collaborated with entrepreneurship professors to define the course objectives and content. The Iterative Design phase involved creating a series of interactive modules with multimedia elements, incorporating industry guest speakers, and facilitating virtual discussions.
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Key Benefits of Technology in Education
Instead of spending months or even years developing a comprehensive training program, the SAM model encourages designers to work in short cycles and iterate quickly based on user feedback. This approach allows for greater flexibility and responsiveness to changing needs and can result in more engaging and effective training programs. With the SAM model, instructional design teams can deliver high-quality training programs faster and with greater efficiency than ever before. In conclusion, the SAM Model offers a dynamic and flexible approach to instructional design by emphasizing collaboration, iteration, and a focus on the learner. Unlike traditional linear models, SAM recognizes that instructional design is a continuous process of refinement and improvement. By involving stakeholders and gathering feedback at every stage, SAM ensures that the final product meets the needs of the learners and achieves the desired outcomes.
Collaborative online platforms, such as project management tools or virtual collaboration spaces, can facilitate communication and collaboration among team members, especially when working remotely. These platforms allow for real-time document sharing, task management, and discussion forums. The storyboards and prototypes that came out of the preparation phase become more polished as the design progresses (in iterations). Whereas traditional approaches are straight lines, the Successive Approximation Model is fluid by definition. That’s why it’s adaptive to iterative prototyping based on the feedback of SMEs and other parties.
The SAM Model promotes the use of data analytics and learning analytics to inform design decisions. Instructional designers can analyze learner data, feedback, and performance metrics to gain insights into the effectiveness of the learning experience. This data-driven approach enables instructional designers to make informed decisions for continuous improvement and ensure the learning experience is aligned with the desired outcomes. It allows instructional designers to quickly create and test different design ideas, gather feedback, and make necessary adjustments.
Now that you’ve met SAM and ADDIE Instructional Design Models
Similar to the ADDIE model, which begins with the Analysis phase, SAM begins with what’s called the Preparation phase. This is a rapid phase that generally consists of examining the strengths and weaknesses of learners, learning about inherent prior knowledge, and establishing the overall goals of the project. In traditional classrooms, SAM can set the tone for more engaging and lively lessons. It creates easily digestible modules that students love to participate in, as they don't feel overwhelmed. Additionally, you can involve students in the design process so they have a say in how the learning program goes, knowing that their needs and preferences are met. SAM, on the other hand, is considered to be an “agile approach” that can be scaled from basic (SAM1) to extended (SAM2) to suit your needs.
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Whatever you create is almost always ideal as long as you pay attention to detail and listen to feedback. Let's dive into SAM and take a look at its 5 phases that promise an effective Instructional Design journey. It involves gathering all the necessary information and resources to kickstart the instructional design process. In conclusion, the Successive Approximation Model is a flexible, collaborative, and iterative approach to instructional design. It offers many benefits, including the ability to respond quickly to changes, the opportunity for continuous improvement, and the potential for a more effective and efficient learning experience.
Evaluation Methods and Metrics in SAM Model
In comparison, the more extensive SAM2 contains a dedicated preparation process and a series of repeating steps broken down into two iterative phases. To compete in today’s business world, organizations must utilize effective training programs that develop the individual skills of their employees and enhance the collective output of their workforce as a whole. That’ll increase their level of confidence that the solution will satisfy the training needs. In the eLearning sector, SAM is responsible for dynamic content that constantly evolves. Adding different types of content, like multimedia, games, and simulations, turns courses into interesting experiences.
Both SAM models use iterative cycles to create the end product right from the start—all while continually analyzing and refining your work as it’s being produced. The data shows that the average elearning course takes 14 weeks to develop. While 14 weeks, or roughly 3 months, is not forever, it kind of defeats the advantages of the SAM model. It would be much more efficient to reduce development time without sacrificing instructional quality. They are both used to develop and create learning solutions for a better learning experience.
Based on evaluation results, refinements and adjustments are made to further improve the materials. Collaboration is central to SAM, involving close cooperation between instructional designers, subject matter experts (SMEs), stakeholders, and learners. This collective input ensures that the final product meets the needs and expectations of all parties involved. Resistance from stakeholders, such as subject matter experts or project sponsors, can hinder the successful implementation of the SAM Model.
