St. Thomas University

Framework 3

Pebble in the Pond

When First Principles tell you what good instruction looks like, Pebble in the Pond tells you how to design it. Six stages that radiate outward from a real problem.

Animated model

Drop the pebble, watch the ripples

A real problem is the pebble. Each ripple is a design decision that radiates outward from it.

1. Problem2. Progression3. Skills4. Strategy5. Interface6. Production
Stage 1

Specify a problem

Designer's task

Define a whole, authentic problem the course will teach learners to solve.

Deliverable

Problem statement with a representative end-product.

Worked example

Pharmacy students screen a real prescription for drug interactions.

Stage 1 of 6

Guided coaching conversation

Coach me through Pebble in the Pond

An AI instructional-design coach will help you apply Pebble in the Pond to a real design problem. Take about 3 turns per step, then advance.

Step 1 of 3 · 0/3 turns

Sequence activity

Put the six stages in order

  1. 1Specify a problem
  2. 2Identify a progression of problems
  3. 3Analyze required component skills
  4. 4Design the instructional strategy
  5. 5Design the interface and interaction
  6. 6Production

Knowledge check

Test your understanding

  1. 1. What is the 'pebble' in Merrill's model?

  2. 2. After specifying the problem, the next stage is…

  3. 3. Component skills analysis answers which question?

  4. 4. Pebble in the Pond is best characterised as…