ABSTRACT
The learner is your customer. Those identified to use your instruction represent the “consumers,” and a systematic approach will place them at the very center of your design efforts. A learnercentered design is said to be the most powerful contribution to effective instruction resulting from a systematic approach (Brigg, Gustafson, & Tillman, 1991). When you prioritize the learner, their needs and abilities impact the design of the instruction in many ways. For example, consider how the instructions for identifying minerals would differ for these three audiences: ninth grade earth science students, graduate geology students, and jewelry store technicians. The content might be
similar, but the treatment will most likely differ based on the needs, motivations, and abilities of each audience group. Even within one of those groups, individual differences can impact the design.
