This paper will examine how instructional design in e-learning has changed in the past decade. Most educational institutions today are using distance learning management systems and delivering instructor-led online courses. The rise of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) has changed the landscape of higher education. Although MOOCs are perceived to feature the latest innovations in instructional design methodologies, in reality, the lack of instructional design is considered to be one of the reasons behind high attrition rates of students.
Learners access online courses via different devices, and instructional designers divide course material into bite-size chunks of information to ensure an optimal viewing experience across a wide range of devices. Mobile and wearable computing devices demand different approaches in delivering information to users. Many educators understand the value of game-based learning in increasing student motivation and improving student learning. The growing field of augmented reality has opened up many possibilities for providing learners with more complex user experiences and bringing them beyond the graphical user interface.