CTM Instructional Design & Curriculum Development 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The SAM (Successive Approximation Model) differs from ADDIE primarily because it emphasizes:
- A strictly linear development process
- Iterative prototyping and rapid feedback cycles (Correct answer)
- Outsourcing content creation to SMEs
- Eliminating the analysis phase
Correct answer: Iterative prototyping and rapid feedback cycles
SAM uses iterative cycles of design, prototyping, and review to progressively refine instruction, allowing early and frequent feedback.
Question 2: When collaborating with a Subject Matter Expert (SME), the instructional designer's primary role is to:
- Become an expert in the content domain
- Translate the SME's expertise into effective instructional experiences (Correct answer)
- Delegate all design decisions to the SME
- Limit SME involvement to the review phase only
Correct answer: Translate the SME's expertise into effective instructional experiences
The instructional designer bridges pedagogy and content, structuring the SME's knowledge into learner-centered experiences while the SME provides domain accuracy.
Question 3: Which evaluation level in Kirkpatrick's model is most directly influenced by how well a curriculum is designed?
- Level 1 – Reaction
- Level 2 – Learning (Correct answer)
- Level 3 – Behavior
- Level 4 – Results
Correct answer: Level 2 – Learning
Level 2 (Learning) measures whether learners acquired the knowledge and skills specified in the learning objectives, which is directly shaped by curriculum design quality.
Question 4: A storyboard in instructional design serves as:
- A final deliverable sent to learners
- A visual blueprint detailing screen layout, content, and interactions before development begins (Correct answer)
- A post-course assessment tool
- A reporting dashboard for training metrics
Correct answer: A visual blueprint detailing screen layout, content, and interactions before development begins
Storyboards are pre-production planning documents that map out each screen or segment, enabling review and revision before costly development begins.
Question 5: Merrill's First Principles of Instruction states that learning is promoted when learners are engaged in solving:
- Isolated skill drills
- Real-world problems (Correct answer)
- Multiple-choice assessments only
- Purely theoretical exercises
Correct answer: Real-world problems
Merrill's First Principles center on task-centered instruction where learners engage with authentic problems, activating prior knowledge and applying new skills.
Question 6: In blended learning curriculum design, the 'flipped classroom' model primarily involves:
- Delivering lectures in-person and assessments online
- Moving content delivery online so class time is used for application and practice (Correct answer)
- Alternating instructors between live and virtual sessions
- Replacing all face-to-face components with asynchronous modules
Correct answer: Moving content delivery online so class time is used for application and practice
The flipped classroom shifts passive content consumption (watching/reading) to pre-class online work, freeing instructor-led time for active, applied learning.
Question 7: A curriculum gap analysis in instructional design is used to:
- Identify discrepancies between current learner performance and desired performance (Correct answer)
- Compare training budgets across departments
- Measure learner satisfaction with existing courses
- Schedule course delivery dates
Correct answer: Identify discrepancies between current learner performance and desired performance
A gap analysis identifies the difference between where learners currently are and where they need to be, informing the scope and focus of curriculum development.
CTM Instructional Design & Curriculum Development 2
The SAM (Successive Approximation Model) differs from ADDIE primarily because it emphasizes: