An Instructional Engineering Method and Tool for the Design of Units of Learning

This chapter discusses how to build IMS learning de signs focusing on three aspects, instructional engineering, modeli ng tools and graphical design techniques. First, we propose that instructional designers use a systemic and systematic instructional engineering method to build Units of Learning conforming to the IMS-LD specification. MISA, a mature instructional engineering method will serve as the basis to our design approach. Second, we present a graphical modeling tool, MOT+, and a representation echnique that was created to support instructional engineering. I MOT+, concepts, procedures and principles are used to descri b all IMS-LD components as well as their relationships. We belie v this graphical language to be closer to instructional designers, i n that it represents a more pedagogical viewpoint than software engineerin g graphical languages like UML, while still enabling an automat ic translation from graphical models into a machine-readable IMS-L D XML. Third, we will provide an example of the design pro cesses involved in building learning designs, from the preliminary nalysis to the definition of a unit of learning method, the centra l p rt of the IMS Learning Design.