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Since Instructional Design owes much of its theory and practice to the military, it seems only reasonable to use military terms to describe it. Here is a military objective: Given a platoon of light infantry, take hill 451 and hold it until relieved. Artillery and air support may be called in as required. Performance, conditions, criterion: In our profession as in the military, the last two do not count without the first. Given a clearly stated a performance problem, the instructional systems technologist will provide a firing solution consisting of a performance-based, criterion referenced objective and the lowest cost, highest efficiency medium to deliver it in 4 hours or less. I use the term "firing solution" deliberately because there is a direct historic military analogy. The Allied bombing campaigns of WWII used what is termed "saturation bombing" strategy. Due to the lack of guidance and aiming tools, hundreds of bombs would be dropped in the hope at least a few would hit the target. In spite of the cost in lives and resources, it was the best they could do and deemed necessary.

Simulations for Fun and Profit by David A. Mallette, Instructional Systems Technologist NOTE: The video and simulation both require Flash and adequate bandwidth. As mentioned here, we have discontinued web distribution of our training in favor of local launch, server authenticated systems of our own design due to bandwidth and latency issues on the Internet that are not likely to be resolved for a long time. The video is compressed enough for 500kpbs or so throughput and the simulation will run in less. By the mid 90s, simulation was the place to be for those on the cutting edge of technical training. A variety of raster-based, multi-tasking computer platforms were available that could provide real-time, free-play simulations of complex machines. Whoops. I've probably lost a bunch of you right there at "raster." I'll explain.