The Development Phase of the Addie Model: Bringing Learning to Life

Once the planning process is complete, instructional designers move into the Development phase of the ADDIE Model. This stage focuses on transforming ideas, objectives, and design plans into actual learning materials. During Development, instructional designers create the resources learners will interact with throughout the learning experience. Whether developing an online course, training presentation, job aid, video, or assessment, this phase is where instructional concepts begin to take shape and become functional learning products (Branch, 2009).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2nGe5xXugw

What Is the Development Phase?

The Development phase is the third stage of the ADDIE Model and follows the Analysis and Design phases. During this stage, instructional designers use storyboards, design documents, and instructional plans to build learning materials that support established objectives. The goal is to create engaging, accurate, and learner-centered resources that align with the instructional strategies developed during the Design phase (Brown & Green, 2020).

Rather than focusing on planning, the Development phase centers on production. Instructional designers begin creating the actual content learners will see, use, and interact with throughout the learning experience.

Rather than focusing on planning, the Development phase centers on production. Instructional designers begin creating the actual content learners will see, use, and interact with throughout the learning experience.

The storyboard shown below demonstrates how instructional ideas can be transformed into a structured learning experience. Before building my Freshman 101 Google Classroom course, I used a storyboard to organize content, learner interactions, activities, assessments, and course flow. Having a clear plan in place made the development process more efficient and helped ensure that each component supported the intended learning objectives. This experience reinforced the importance of thoughtful development and demonstrated how instructional plans evolve into meaningful learning experiences for learners.

Key Activities in the Development Phase

Creating Instructional Materials

One of the primary responsibilities during Development is producing instructional content. This may include presentations, learner guides, assessments, handouts, activities, and digital learning materials. Each resource should align with the learning objectives established during the Design phase and support learner success.

As I have progressed through my graduate studies in Learning Systems Technology, I have gained firsthand experience developing instructional materials for a variety of learning environments. Over the past two years, I have created lesson plans, assessments, storyboards, multimedia resources, and online learning activities designed to support specific learning outcomes. These experiences have reinforced the importance of ensuring that every instructional resource serves a clear purpose and aligns with established objectives.

For example, the storyboard featured below was created to support the development of my Freshman 101 Google Classroom course. Before building the course materials, I used a storyboard to organize content, learner interactions, activities, and assessments. This planning process helped create a more structured and engaging learning experience while ensuring alignment between instructional goals and course activities. Through projects such as these, I have learned that effective development is not simply about creating content but, it is about intentionally designing resources that help learners achieve meaningful outcomes.

Developing Multimedia Resources

Instructional designers often create multimedia elements to enhance engagement and improve understanding. Videos, graphics, audio recordings, animations, and interactive activities can help learners process information more effectively and create a more engaging learning experience (Morrison et al., 2019).

Building E-Learning Experiences

For online and blended learning environments, instructional designers frequently use development tools such as Articulate 360, Adobe Captivate, or learning management systems to create interactive learning experiences. These tools allow designers to transform instructional plans into fully functioning courses that support learner interaction and knowledge retention.

Conducting Reviews and Revisions

Quality assurance is an essential component of the Development phase. Instructional materials should be reviewed for accuracy, consistency, accessibility, functionality, and alignment with learning objectives. Feedback from subject matter experts and stakeholders can help identify areas for improvement before instruction is delivered.

Pilot Testing Learning Materials

Before full implementation, some instructional materials may be tested with a small group of learners. Pilot testing provides valuable feedback about usability, clarity, navigation, and overall effectiveness. This process allows instructional designers to make adjustments before the learning experience reaches a larger audience.

Why the Development Phase Matters

The Development phase plays a critical role in the instructional design process because it transforms plans into tangible learning experiences. Even the most thoughtful analysis and design efforts will have limited impact if the final learning materials are poorly developed or fail to support learner needs. High-quality development ensures that instructional content is engaging, accessible, and aligned with intended outcomes.

Additionally, the Development phase helps identify and resolve issues before implementation. By reviewing, testing, and refining materials, instructional designers can improve the overall quality of instruction and create a more effective learning experience for participants.

Ultimately, the Development phase brings instructional ideas to life. It is the stage where planning becomes action and where learning experiences are created to support meaningful learner growth and performance improvement.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/kfU9dXkpu4w

Additional Resources

• Association for Talent Development (ATD): https://www.td.org

• The eLearning Coach: https://theelearningcoach.com

References

Branch, R. M. (2009). Instructional design: The ADDIE approach. Springer.

Brown, A. H., & Green, T. D. (2020). The essentials of instructional design: Connecting fundamental principles with process and practice (4th ed.). Routledge.

Morrison, G. R., Ross, S. M., Morrison, J. R., & Kalman, H. K. (2019). Designing effective instruction (8th ed.). Wiley.