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    Glossary›ADDIE
    Glossary · Pedagogy

    What is ADDIE?

    Definition

    ADDIE is a five-phase instructional design model: Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, and Evaluate. Each phase has specific deliverables and decisions that guide the creation of learning solutions. Analyze defines what the learner must achieve; Design specifies learning objectives and methods; Develop creates the actual content; Implement delivers it to learners; Evaluate measures whether objectives were met. ADDIE is the oldest and most widely taught ID framework, though modern teams often blend it with agile iterations.

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    In short

    ADDIE at a glance.

    Five sequential phases: Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, Evaluate
    Ensures clarity on goals before content is created
    Evaluation phase feeds data back into future iterations
    Works well for large, formal, compliance-driven programs

    ADDIE: Linear Process for Complex Learning

    ADDIE is methodical and thorough, suited for high-stakes training. It prevents the common mistake of jumping straight to content (Develop) without understanding the problem (Analyze) or desired outcome (Design). However, ADDIE is also sequential; each phase must finish before the next begins, which can feel slow in fast-moving teams. Modern teams often use hybrid approaches: ADDIE's rigor for the overall strategy, agile cycles within development.

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    ADDIE — frequently asked

    ADDIE is still widely taught and used, especially in large enterprises and compliance-heavy industries. It is not outdated, but it is one of many ID models. Agile ID, SAM (Successive Approximation Model), and rapid prototyping are alternatives for teams needing speed.

    Analyze: understand the problem and learner. Design: define objectives and methods. Develop: create content. Implement: deliver and support. Evaluate: measure results. Each phase produces documents and decisions that guide the next.

    Traditional ADDIE is waterfall-like, but teams can adapt it. For example, complete Analyze and Design once, then use agile cycles for Develop and Implement, with Evaluate running continuously. This hybrid preserves rigor while enabling speed.

    From definition to done.

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