ABSTRACT
This chapter is a literature review and provides an overview of instructional design. The purpose of the chapter is to provide readers background knowledge of the primary research concept, i.e., instructional design, and enable better understanding and appreciation of the book contents. The chapter traces the origin and evolution of instructional design, i.e., its various definitions and its development in higher education in first and second sections. The remaining five sections of the chapter discuss different focal aspects of instruction design. The second section highlights instructional designer knowledge and skill. While the third section describes instructional designer academic knowledge vs experience followed by the fourth section which discusses instructional designer personal characteristics. Sixth and seventh sections detail the impact and influence of institutional structure, culture, and institutional resources on instructional designer roles. Specifically, the fifth section is divided into three sub-sections of (a) hierarchical structures, (b) flat, team structures, and department cultures. The final section of the chapter highlights faculty perceptions of instructional designers. The chapter ends with a brief summarizing conclusion.
