SAM - The Successive Approximation Model of Instructional Design

Michael Allen’s SAM approach focuses heavily on prototyping and offers a strong alternative to waterfall instructional design processes like ADDIE.

This model builds consensus quickly is, overall, a more enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

SAM is also a popular model in the tech space, so if you’re looking for an ID role in that field, being able to speak knowledgably about SAM may help you stand out to potential hiring managers or clients.

Follow along as we explore SAM and discuss how you can use it on your next project.

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0:00 Intro
1:21 ADDIE vs SAM
3:24 Benefits of SAM
4:57 Successive Approximation
7:40 Fundamentals
10:41 Simple SAM
11:44 Evaluate
12:41 Design
13:51 Develop
15:18 Rinse & Repeat
16:35 Let’s do it together!
18:23 Three-Phase SAM
19:30 Preparation
12:28 Iterative Design
22:50 Iterative Development
24:28 Next Steps

[carriesusong]

I love the idea of an interactive game to simulate an ID's real-world experience!

[nehalahmumtaz]

hi Devlin. I am an electronics engineer. your channel motivated me to become an ID, and after 4 years of eng profession, i gave it up, and joined a company as an ID in April. learning from you every day. thank you soo soo much.

[LearningLabyrinthbyKimEdwards]

I cant believe you have not had 500 likes yet.

[suzannehakimipour]

I love the role-playing concept for ID learning--count me in! :)

[mariamas.]

Thank you, Devlin. The way you explain these methodologies - SAM, ADDIE, etc is super helpful! 👏🙏🥳

[DanielGarcia-pblt]

Sign me up! I would love to participate in something like this, it sounds super fun! Thanks Devlin for putting this idea out there!

[kas]

DP knows how to train cats too?! What a stellar ID...teaching all creatures.

[mollysomerville]

I’d love to be a part of a group build. I really enjoying seeing how other people build courses and go through the process. I think it’s one of the best ways to learn!

[robynpost]

Your videos are solid gold. Thank you!

[asmam.]

I hope you are still considering building a prototype based on the SAM model. I am super excited about it!

[paulharris]

Hey Devlin, as a behaviour analyst who has just stepped into the ID space, I found this so interesting. Thank you!

[kelechim-]

Love the collaborative SAM project you suggested near the end of your video!

[ohlenegia]

Thanks so much for this video, Devlin! I am learning this in my Masters program right now and I was awfully confused. Your video made it so easy to understand and digest! Thanks for all that you do!

[jeffmartin]

SAM is much closer to the reality of my ID role than ADDIE - I work in higher ed. I prefer to create the prototype in our LMS rather than create it as a storyboard using Word or PowerPoint etc. Though we often get feedback from stakeholders through email/text-based software, it is much easier to just edit within the LMS once we get that feedback rather than recreating it from a storyboard within the LMS. IMO it is much easier to just create / prototype using the software where the final product will be built. Love your content!

[JessieCarty]

I love the idea of having a meta role-playing experience to learn instructional design. Hope you get all the likes you need to make that happen :) We don't specifically call it SAM, but I feel we do use more of a iterative prototyping process in most of my work than linear ADDIE for sure.

[miloudbouchefra]

Thanks a lot for the very informative video Devlin, super clear and to the point as usual, and I'd love to see you working in action, doing SAM and other parts of the ID process, Imean what's better than observing and learning from the best. Keep up the good work.

[sarahkirk]

Thank you Devlin for this thorough video, it's helped me a lot understand this model of ID. I feel like you went a bit fast on the "FULL SAM" at the end, I wished you talked a bit more about the implement step in the iterative development phase, as I'm not too sure what it refers to. Would love an interactive experience for ID. Wonderful job again, thank you :)

[mickeyoshea]

'Like' # 599! I love the idea of the collaborative ID scenario based Interactive Game.
I have a niche interest in using tools like Twine to create interactive fiction based on historical events.

[virginiabutler]

Would love to help with the role-playing game process! Have joined your ID community.

[MarieSlim]

I love SAM - the reiteration helps me so much as I love the creative process of ID. Thanks @DP! I have that book but need to read it.