What Is the ADDIE Model?
The ADDIE model is a five-phase framework for building training: Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation and Evaluation. You first find the learning problem, then plan the solution, build it, deliver it to learners, and measure whether it worked. Evaluation feeds back into every phase, so the course keeps improving.
Most instructional design models used today are variations of ADDIE. That is why it is still the first framework new instructional designers learn, and the one many L&D teams use to plan eLearning projects.
In this guide you will get:
- A plain-English breakdown of each phase, with an eLearning example
- The real history of who created the ADDIE model
- A worked project example and a copy-ready ADDIE model template
- An honest ADDIE vs SAM comparison
- Common mistakes teams make when applying ADDIE
Who Created the ADDIE Model?
No single person created the ADDIE model. It grew out of work by Florida State University’s Center for Educational Technology for the U.S. armed forces in the mid-1970s. The “ADDIE” label itself spread later, informally.
Many blogs say “ADDIE was created by Florida State University in 1975.” That is only partly true. Here is what the research shows:
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1970 | Leslie Briggs (FSU) publishes systematic design ideas similar to ADDIE, without the five headings |
| Mid-1970s | FSU’s Center for Educational Technology develops the Interservice Procedures for Instructional Systems Development (IPISD) for the U.S. military |
| Mid-1980s | Versions close to today’s ADDIE appear; the model becomes less linear and more iterative |
| 2003 | Michael Molenda (Indiana University) traces the acronym and finds no original author |
| 2009 | Robert Maribe Branch publishes Instructional Design: The ADDIE Approach (Springer) |
IPISD used five slightly different headings: analyze, design, develop, implement and control. After reviewing the literature, Molenda concluded the label “seems not to have a single author, but rather to have evolved informally through oral tradition” (Molenda, 2003).
So, the ADDIE model of instructional design was given by whom? The accurate answer: it is based on FSU’s IPISD work for the U.S. military, but the acronym has no single creator.
The 5 Phases of the ADDIE Model (With eLearning Examples)
Each phase answers one question. If you can answer it clearly, you are ready to move on.
| Phase | Key question | Main output | eLearning example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Analysis | What problem are we solving, and for whom? | Training needs analysis, learner profile, goals | Sales reps lose deals because they cannot explain a new product’s pricing |
| 2. Design | How will learners reach the goal? | Learning objectives, design document, storyboard | Three 10-minute modules with a pricing simulation and a scenario quiz |
| 3. Development | Can we build it and does it work? | Finished course, SCORM package, QA report | Built in an authoring tool, exported as SCORM, tested on mobile |
| 4. Implementation | How do learners get it? | LMS setup, enrolments, launch plan | Uploaded to Moodle, auto-assigned to the sales team with reminders |
| 5. Evaluation | Did it work, and what should change? | Feedback, assessment data, business results | Quiz scores, learner survey, and pricing-related deal losses tracked for 90 days |
1. Analysis: Find the Real Problem
Analysis decides whether training is even the right fix. Sometimes the real issue is a broken process or a missing tool, not a skills gap.
In this phase you:
- Define the business problem in measurable terms (for example, “onboarding takes 30 days, target is 20”)
- Profile the learners: role, prior knowledge, devices, language, time available
- List constraints: budget, deadline, LMS, compliance rules
- Interview subject matter experts (SMEs) and a few real learners
eLearning example: For a new-hire induction training program, analysis may show that most new joiners access content on their phones. That single finding changes the whole design toward mobile learning.
2. Design: Plan the Learning Experience
Design turns the analysis into a blueprint. Nothing is built yet; you are deciding what to build.
- Write measurable learning objectives (use action verbs such as “calculate”, “identify”, “handle”)
- Choose the format: video, scenario, simulation, game-based learning or a blend
- Plan assessments that match each objective
- Create a storyboard and get SME sign-off
Tip: Get one sample screen approved before full development. It catches style and tone issues early, when changes are cheap.
3. Development: Build and Test the Course
Development is where the storyboard becomes a working course. It usually takes the most time. In a 2024 survey of 400+ learning design professionals, respondents spent 38.5% of their time on development and implementation, compared with 22.4% on design and 17.6% on analysis (Synthesia, State of Instructional Design 2024).
- Produce media: graphics, voice-over, video, interactions
- Build the course in an authoring tool and package it as SCORM content
- Run a quality check: content accuracy, broken links, audio sync, accessibility
- Pilot with a small learner group and fix issues
AI tools now speed up this phase. The same survey found nearly 80% of instructional designers use AI at least weekly, with ChatGPT as the most-used tool. Course generators such as HACC Gen can draft Moodle course structures from source material, which designers then review and refine.
4. Implementation: Launch to Learners
Implementation is about delivery. A strong course can still fail if learners cannot find it or do not know why it matters.
- Upload the course to your LMS and test tracking (completion, scores)
- Set enrolment rules, deadlines and reminders
- Brief managers so they can support their teams
- Train facilitators if the program is blended
If you run Moodle, a proper Moodle LMS implementation and LMS integration with HRMS let new employees get courses assigned automatically.
5. Evaluation: Measure and Improve
Evaluation has two parts. Formative evaluation happens during every phase (reviews, pilots). Summative evaluation happens after launch and judges overall results.
Many teams use the Kirkpatrick Model to structure summative evaluation:
| Kirkpatrick level | What it measures | How to measure in eLearning |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Reaction | Did learners find it useful? | End-of-course survey |
| 2. Learning | Did they gain knowledge or skill? | Pre- and post-assessment scores |
| 3. Behavior | Do they apply it on the job? | Manager checklists, observation after 30–90 days |
| 4. Results | Did the business metric move? | KPIs from the analysis phase (errors, sales, time saved) |
The key link: the metric you set in Analysis is the metric you check in Evaluation. If you skipped it in phase 1, you cannot prove impact in phase 5.
ADDIE Model Example: A Complete eLearning Project
Here is how ADDIE plays out on a typical corporate compliance course, the kind of policy and guidelines training many companies need.
- Analysis: HR reports that employees fail the annual data-privacy audit. Learners are 1,200 staff across 4 offices, mostly on laptops, with 20 minutes to spare per week.
- Design: Four objectives are set, such as “identify personal data in a customer email.” The team chooses four 5-minute micro-modules with branching scenarios and a 10-question final quiz.
- Development: Storyboards are approved by the legal SME. The course is built, voiced, exported as SCORM 1.2 and piloted with 25 employees. Pilot feedback shortens two scenarios.
- Implementation: The course is uploaded to the LMS, auto-assigned by department, with reminders on day 7 and day 14.
- Evaluation: Quiz scores, survey ratings and the next audit result are compared with the baseline. Weak quiz questions are rewritten for the next version.
ADDIE Model Template (Copy and Use)
Use this template as your project checklist or ADDIE model notes. Copy it into a sheet and fill one row per phase.
| Phase | Questions to answer | Deliverable | Owner | Sign-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analysis | Business problem? Target metric? Who are the learners? Constraints? | Needs analysis report | Instructional designer + client | Client lead |
| Design | Objectives? Format? Assessment plan? Look and feel? | Design document + storyboard | Instructional designer | SME |
| Development | Is content accurate? Does it work on all devices? SCORM tested? | Final course + QA report | Developers + QA | SME + client |
| Implementation | Who gets it, when? Is tracking working? Are managers briefed? | Launch plan + LMS setup | LMS admin | L&D head |
| Evaluation | Did the target metric move? What will we change? | Evaluation report | Instructional designer + L&D | Client lead |
ADDIE vs SAM Model in Instructional Design
SAM (Successive Approximation Model) is an agile alternative to ADDIE, created by Michael Allen of Allen Interactions. Instead of finishing each phase before the next, SAM builds quick prototypes, tests them with learners, and improves them in short cycles. Allen introduced it in his book Leaving ADDIE for SAM.
| Factor | ADDIE | SAM |
|---|---|---|
| Approach | Phase by phase, structured | Iterative, rapid prototypes |
| Phases | 5 (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation) | 3 in SAM2 (Preparation, Iterative Design, Iterative Development) |
| Feedback timing | Mostly at reviews and the end | Early and constant |
| Best for | Compliance, regulated, large or fixed-scope programs | Fast-changing content, tight timelines, unclear needs |
| Documentation | Heavy; clear audit trail | Lighter |
| Main risk | Problems found late are costly to fix | Scope creep without firm limits |
Other models you may meet include Agile/LLAMA (Lot Like Agile Management Approach), Dick and Carey (a detailed systems model) and Merrill’s Principles of Instruction. Many teams today run a hybrid: ADDIE’s structure, with SAM-style prototypes inside the Design and Development phases.
Is the ADDIE Model Still Used in 2026?
Yes. ADDIE is still widely used, especially for corporate, compliance and academic training. In Synthesia’s 2024 survey, ADDIE was the framework used to ask professionals how they split their time, which shows how standard it remains as a shared language. What has changed is how teams apply it: shorter cycles, more prototypes and AI-assisted development.
Advantages of ADDIE
- Easy to learn and explain to clients and SMEs
- Clear deliverables and sign-offs reduce disputes
- Strong documentation, useful for audits and compliance
- Links training directly to a measurable business goal
Limitations of ADDIE
- Strictly linear use can be slow
- Learner feedback often arrives late
- Can create paperwork that adds little value on small projects
Common Mistakes When Using ADDIE
- Skipping analysis because “we already know the problem.” This is the top reason courses miss their goal.
- No baseline metric, so evaluation cannot prove impact.
- Treating it as one-way. Formative evaluation should happen in every phase.
- Late SME reviews, which force rework in development.
- Ending at launch. Evaluation data should feed the next version.
How Dynamic Pixel Applies ADDIE in Real Projects
At Dynamic Pixel, a Certified Moodle Partner building custom eLearning content since 2010, we use ADDIE as the backbone of every project, with SAM-style prototyping inside it. Here is our method:
- Discovery call and needs analysis: we agree the business metric and learner profile before any storyboard.
- Prototype first: one fully built sample screen is approved before full development.
- Two review rounds: SME review at storyboard stage and at alpha build.
- SCORM and LMS testing: every package is tested in Moodle on desktop and mobile before delivery.
- Post-launch report: completion, scores and feedback are shared with the client after [30/60] days.
Project snapshot: [Add one real project: client industry, course type, number of learners, timeline, and one measured result such as completion rate or time saved. Only use figures from your records.]
Need help designing or building your next course? Talk to our instructional design team.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ADDIE model of instructional design?
The ADDIE model is a five-step process for creating training: Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation and Evaluation. Designers study the learning need, plan objectives and content, build the materials, deliver them to learners, and measure results. It is the most common foundation for instructional design models used in corporate, academic and eLearning projects.
What are the five phases of ADDIE?
The five phases are: (1) Analysis, finding the learning problem and audience; (2) Design, setting objectives and planning content; (3) Development, building and testing the course; (4) Implementation, delivering it through an LMS or classroom; and (5) Evaluation, measuring learner results and business impact, then improving the course.
Who is the creator of the ADDIE model?
The ADDIE model has no single creator. It is based on the IPISD model developed by Florida State University’s Center for Educational Technology for the U.S. armed forces in the mid-1970s. Researcher Michael Molenda found the “ADDIE” acronym itself evolved informally, with no original author or source document.
What has replaced ADDIE?
Nothing has fully replaced ADDIE. Agile models such as SAM (Successive Approximation Model) by Michael Allen and LLAMA are popular alternatives for fast projects. In practice, most teams use a hybrid: ADDIE’s five phases for structure, with rapid prototypes and frequent learner testing inside the design and development phases.
Is ADDIE still used?
Yes. ADDIE is still widely used in 2026, especially for compliance, onboarding and large corporate programs that need clear sign-offs and documentation. Modern teams apply it more flexibly than before, running shorter cycles, testing early prototypes and using AI tools to speed up development.
What is the difference between ADDIE and SAM?
ADDIE moves through five phases in a structured order, with formal reviews. SAM works in short repeated cycles, building rough prototypes early and refining them with learner feedback. ADDIE suits fixed-scope or regulated training; SAM suits projects where needs are unclear or content changes quickly.
Is there a free ADDIE model template?
Yes. Use the template table in this guide: list each phase, the questions to answer, the deliverable, the owner and who signs off. Copy it into a spreadsheet and track one row per phase. It works for both small microlearning modules and large multi-course programs.
Related Reading
- Best Moodle AI Plugins: What Actually Works in 2026
- How to Install Moodle: Step-by-Step Guide
- Dynamic Pixel eLearning Solutions
- AI Solutions for Learning
Sources
- Molenda, M. (2003). In Search of the Elusive ADDIE Model. Performance Improvement.
- Penn State Instructional Design Handbook: ADDIE
- Branch, R. M. (2009). Instructional Design: The ADDIE Approach. Springer.
- Synthesia: State of Instructional Design Survey (2024)
- Allen Interactions: Leaving ADDIE for SAM
- Kirkpatrick Partners: The Kirkpatrick Model
