What is the ASSURE Model?

Learners are increasingly expecting more technology facilitated learning activities that are not easily accommodated through traditional instruction. Instructors often have limited time or support to work on innovation and improvement of teaching with technology. To compensate, teachers rely on models such as ASSURE. The ASSURE model is a six step process that demonstrates how to select, use, and evaluate technology and instructional resources as important parts of a design process. This model consists of a six-step process:

1. Analyze learners
2. State standards, and objectives
3. Select strategies, technology, media, and materials
4. Utilize technology, media, and material
5. Require learner participation
6. Evaluate and revise

Here’s an in depth look at each step along with some examples of how to use the ASSURE model practically.

Analyze learners

1. Analyze general characteristics
2. Analyze specific entry competencies
3. Analyze learning styles

State standards and objectives

1. State standards (e.g., curriculum standards and technology standards)
2. Learning objectives

Select strategies, technology, and instructional resources

1. Select strategies
2. Select technology and instructional resources
3. Select, modify, or design materials

Utilize resources

1. Preview technology and instructional resources
2. Prepare technology and instructional resources
3. Prepare the environment
4. Prepare the learners
5. Provide the learning experience

Require learner participation

Evaluate and revise

1. Evaluate impact on student learning
2. Pre-assessment
3. Post-assessment

Evaluate and revise strategies, technology, and instructional resources

1. Were the instructional strategies effective
2. Could they be improved?
3. Did the technology assist students in meeting the learning objectives?
4. Did they support meaningful student participation?

Other Instructional Design Models:

How to Analyze Learners

The first stages of the ASSURE model focuses on the analyzing learners. One can examine your learners along several factors:

Learner characteristics and needs

• Variety of learning styles (e.g., visual, auditory, kinesthetic, etc.)
• Hands-on
• Cooperative grouping
• Technology (e.g., computers, iPads, etc.)
• Motivation needed Etc. (e.g., special needs and independence)

Select strategies/technology/resources & Utilizing

Once the teachers analyzed their students’ learner characteristics and needs and created or reviewing the learning objectives, the next step is to select the appropriate strategies, technologies, and resources to achieve the learning objectives.

Instructional strategies

(Teacher centered)

• Presentation with technology smartboard, projector.
• Demonstration with technology (drill-and-practice)

(Student centered)

• Learning activities with centered technology ( iPad, Web sites, games, etc.)
• Group activities (Cooperative grouping)
• Discussion
• Miscellaneous (discovery, role-play, simulation)

Technology and instructional resources

• Instructional tools (wiki, academic journals, games)
• Computer/projector Tablet (iPad)
• Phones/camera

ASSURE Model Example:

The teacher will use the interactive whiteboard to teach students how to apply exponent rules to various numerical and algebraic expressions. Presentation was selected as the instructional strategy because this material is new for all students in the class.

Student-centered activities will include students working collaboratively to construct a mock social media post article or a short YouTube documentary.

The class will engage in a group discussion (student-centered) ensuring that students have fully grasped the basic knowledge provided by the text on the topic of The War of 1812, America and British relations in the early 1800s.

Students enjoy using the mini whiteboards, working on Python , and using the iPads. The whiteboards and Python provide students with instant feedback, which they like. The iPads add a level of technical sophistication and “cool” factor to their work, which promotes student engagement.

Throughout the course of this unit, various forms of technology will be utilized, such as PowerPoint (PPT), YouTube videos, , digital cameras, Web-based resources, and publishing software.

Conclusion

The six stages of the ASSURE model support, and potentially encourage, the creation of student-centered, active learning lessons.

In conclusion, it is acknowledged that the ASSURE model is a practical, easy-to-implement approach for integrating technology into classroom instruction, using a few of the examples I have listed above should provide some measurable improvement in your learners.

Have you tried used the ASSURE model or tried any of the learning strategies before? Let me know in the comments about your experience.