The Design Of ASSURE Model-based Guidance Web For Classic English Readers

Instructional design is a planning process for improving learning, which starts from analyzing learners and stating objectives, and then tries to select proper media formats and instructional delivery systems for learners. Among the instructional design methods focusing on"learning", the ASSURE Model proposed by Robert Heinich is a classic one. It provides teachers with a practical blueprint for instructional design and guides them to complete a media-based instructional design task systematically and efficiently to make the most of the media materials.With the help of the Internet, teachers can act more creatively in the extensive English teaching. One of the most important issues in this student-centered and web-based instruction is the website design and development to facilitate learning as well as the integration and utilization of the media and learning materials. Therefore, a systematic and convenient instructional design theory is necessary to guide this website design. Based on a variety of literature review, this thesis attempts to make an exploration in designing and developing a website to facilitate extensive reading of classic English novels under the guidance of the ASSURE Model.The website design focuses on the sophomore students at the Net College of a university in Shanghai, aiming at improving their efficiency of reading classic English novels. According to the ASSURE Model, the whole process of the website design includes the following six steps: 1) Analyzing learners, 2) Stating objectives, 3) Selecting methods, media and materials, 4) Utilizing materials, 5) Requiring learner participation, and 6) Evaluating and revising. It tries to"assure"students of ideal effects on their autonomous learning by utilizing this website and make good use of various media and learning resources to enhance their capabilities of reading novels. Besides, this website has been available since September 2008. The sophomore students who are taking the extensive English reading course can utilized this website to assist their learning. Meanwhile, the forms of questionnaires and interviews are used to collect feedbacks and suggestions from both students and teachers for evaluation and revision of the website.