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Four Architectures of Instruction

Ruth Colvin Clark, Performance Improvement, Aug 05, 2002
Commentary by Stephen Downes

Everybody loves lists that offer a simple categorization of an otherwise complex field, and thus thus work by Ruth Colvin Clark, referred to in the links below, is becoming a standard division of types of architectures of instruction. In a nutshell, Clark four major types of architecture:

Receptive - instruction is provided in a fixed linear path from beginning to end, as in a video or television showCRLF
Directive - a path is suggested through a learning hierarchy, but the learner can flip back and forth, as in a bookCRLF
Guided Discovery - learners are encouraged to explore a learning environment, as in a simulation, case study or scenarioCRLF
Exploratory - learners may freely search or jump from place to place, as on the world wide web, an information database or a library.CRLF

CRLFWhat is interesting to me is that this newsletter, designed explicitly as a form of online learning, does not fit into any of the categories. Rather, it falls into the category I call "syndicated learning" whereby a continuous stream of learning materials is provided, supported by a knowledge base and discussion capabilities, to provide the learner with a semistructured and opened ended instructional resource. The syndicated learning model has become increasingly popular in recent months with the rise of the school blogs phenomenon. Clark's models are mostly what I would call "close ended" while models such as syndicated learning and exploratory learning are what could be called "open ended".

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