ADDIE, AGILE, or SAM … Why not ADDILETM?
Our Process: Purposeful Design, Lasting Partnerships
At AligneDesigns, our process is more than a checklist—it’s a philosophy. We believe that great learning isn’t just built—it’s co-created. That’s why we treat every client as a partner, working collaboratively to design experiences that not only meet today’s learning needs but also adapt as your organization grows.
Our instructional design process is centred on ADDILETM, our trademarked instructional design methodology that combines the structure of ADDIE model with the responsiveness of AGILE and SAM. What truly sets it apart is the Lessons Learned phase—a built-in mechanism for reflection and improvement that ensures each engagement makes the next even better.
From kickoff to evaluation, this process prioritizes clarity, communication, and flexibility—because when we design with intention and adapt with insight, learning becomes a catalyst for transformation.
Phase 1: Analysis – Understanding the Landscape
We begin by asking the right questions—not just about what needs to be taught, but why, for whom, and how it fits into the bigger picture. In our kick-off meeting we bring together the whole development team, where all team members meet and get to know each other.
NEEDS ANALYSIS
The needs analysis uncovers the core problem or opportunity behind your training request. Are you addressing a performance gap? Supporting a new initiative? We identify how learning can drive organizational goals forward.
LEARNER ANALYSIS
We conduct a learner analysis to understand your target audience. Who are they? What do they already know, and what do they need to know? This ensures we craft content that is appropriately scaffolded—whether that means breaking concepts into manageable steps, using storytelling to model skills, or presenting material through multiple modalities (text, video, audio, interactive scenarios).
GAPS ANALYSIS
We complete a content gap analysis, reviewing existing materials and identifying what needs to be built from scratch. Alongside this instructional lens, we lay a strong project management foundation—clarifying timelines, meeting cadence, communication channels, and success metrics.
Phase 2: Design – Architecting the Learning Experience
With a clear understanding of your goals and learners, we move into the design phase—where ideas become structure.
COURSE ALIGNMENT
We begin by crafting detailed course learning outcomes, mapped by Bloom’s Taxonomy. These outcomes drive every decision in the course—from activities to assessments. We ensure they’re measurable, aligned to real-world application, and written in accessible, learner-centred language.
INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGY
Drawing from adult learning theory, we build engagement by encouraging learners to connect the course materials to their own experiences through a variety of teaching strategies. For example, we might use instructional technology to create branching scenarios that simulate decision-making, reflection prompts to encourage self-assessment, or animated storytelling to illustrate complex ideas.
A Teach It, Try It approach …
… guides the active learning design. First, learners receive instruction (Teach It), then immediately apply it in a low-stakes environment (Try It). Every design decision is made with scalability and accessibility in mind.
In parallel, our eLearning course developer reviews your technical requirements and begins visual exploration—creating alpha templates based on your branding guidelines, accessibility standards, and LMS requirements. These visual directions are refined collaboratively through feedback cycles.
Phase 3
Development Phase A: Instructional Design
Development Phase B: eLearning Build
Our Instructional Designers take the lead in crafting the learning experience, beginning with scripting each module based on the design plan. Content is structured to guide learners through the learning process with clarity and intention.
This includes:
- Plain-language narration and dialogue
- Scenarios that model real-world decision-making
- Knowledge checks and just-in-time feedback (Formative assessments)
- Summative evaluation that reflect learning objectives
- Cohesive pacing and tone for a consistent learner experience
We maintain close collaboration with your subject matter experts during the scripting process. Internal quality checks are followed by two formal feedback cycles with your team—ensuring content is accurate, engaging, and aligned with both your goals and voice.
We collaborate with Michael Foley at eLearnza to elevate your learning content through expert development and thoughtful design.
With over 25 years in instructional design and eLearning, Michael is known for building standout digital learning experiences that balance innovation, accessibility, and engagement. His approach blends technical skill with visual creativity, pushing boundaries while staying grounded in best practices.
Using tools like Articulate Storyline, Rise, motion graphics software, and accessibility platforms, Michael creates modules that are:
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Visually appealing and aligned with your brand
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Technically sound and LMS-compatible
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Accessible and WCAG 2.2 compliant
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Interactive and responsive across devices
Our development teams work in tandem—while one module is scripted, another is built. Rigorous reviews, including narration, usability, and accessibility testing, ensure a polished final product aligned with your learning goals.
Phase 4: Implementation – Ready to Launch
Implementation isn’t just the last mile—it’s a key stage in quality assurance.
Our team works with you to test the modules in your Learning Management System (LMS), troubleshoot compatibility issues, and structure the learner journey. We co-develop:
- Landing pages
- Course and module overviews
- Downloadable resources
- Badging and quizzing structures
By the time final modules are uploaded, most technical issues have already been resolved through iterative testing. You can launch with confidence—knowing that the experience has been validated across devices, audiences, and systems.
Phase 5: Lessons Learned – Built-In Growth
After implementation, we pause for reflection—but we don’t slow down.
The Lessons Learned phase is where project performance becomes process improvement.
This is a structured, collaborative review of:
- Communication and collaboration effectiveness
- Feedback cycle efficiencies
- Bottlenecks and breakthroughs
- Timeline accuracy and scope alignment
- Content and design choices that worked well—or didn’t
Rather than treating this as an afterthought, we integrate these insights into a Shared Lessons Learned report and use them to enhance the next phase of work—or the next project. For long-term partners, this is the key to increasing speed, reducing friction, and deepening trust.
Phase 6: Evaluation – Measuring What Matters
Success isn’t just about launching—it’s about lasting impact. Our evaluation strategy blends formative and summative tools to measure what’s working and what needs to evolve.
Together, we define KPIs such as:
- Enrolment and completion rates
- Assessment scores
- User engagement and dwell time
- Content interaction data
- Learner satisfaction and feedback
We help you visualize these metrics through real-time dashboards that allow for ongoing content tuning. To extend learning retention, we recommend enhancements like:
- Digital badges to reward engagement
- Follow-up emails to reinforce learning
- Landing page refreshes to maintain relevance
