Using a hypertext instructional design methodology in engineering education

Inherent in good engineering is the practice of using a design methodology when constructing complex systems, whether they are bridges, circuits, or computer programs. The design methodology can help to work out problems before they make their way into the final product. Also, the design methodology can help to make all of the parts of the final product fit together better and thereby achieve a certain coherence in the design. A design methodology can be used to achieve similar coherence in building hypertext instructional systems. The design methodology described in this paper can be easily used by engineering educators and graduate students without special training after reading a description of it and working through an example application. The methodology uses the object-based paradigm, has checks for validity to help the user detect unreachable hypertext nodes, and incorporates sound instructional design principles. The value of the methodology is in making it easier for the user to organize instructional material carefully without having to spend a large amount of time in learning a complex design process and to incorporate components already developed that have been used successfully.