In addition to taking LT-8000 this semester, I am also taking LT-7100 with Dr. Mary Shoffner.  On a side note, I find that taking both of these course simultaneously very helpful as they seem to build off of each other.

In one of her lectures she presents Curtis L. Broderick’s definition of Instructional Design that I very much agree with:

Instructional Design is the art and science of creating an instructional environment and materials that will bring the learner from the state of not  knowing, not feeling or not being able to accomplish certain tasks to the state of knowing, feeling and being able to accomplish those tasks. Instructional Design is based on theoretical and practical research in the areas of cognition, educational psychology, and problem solving.

For me this combines the art and science behind instructional design and really plays to assisting learners accomplish tasks based on a comprehensive approach.  It seems that I am not alone in this stand point as similar sentiments are shared below:

• Roger Williams University
• Penn State University

What, if any, upgrades would you make to this definition?