This post is provided by guest blogger, Carla Reed, graduate student at University of St. Francis, MS Talent Development program.

In a recent article, Furnival (2025) suggests three simple ways to strengthen instructional design: spark curiosity with engaging scenarios—like solving real‑world problems, role‑playing as investigators or consultants, or working through realistic case studies—collaborate with colleagues to enrich ideas and stay focused on clear learning goals. Together, these approaches help make learning purposeful and engaging.

The article appears credible, published by Edutopia, a widely respected education outlet, and authored by an educator with over 20 years of classroom and library experience. Its ideas are easy to apply, which makes it genuinely useful for teachers looking to refresh their lessons without getting bogged down in theory. Instructional designers, new educators, and anyone involved in professional development might appreciate its straightforward approach. While it doesn’t dive into evidence‑based methods, it offers clear, workable strategies that can help educators rethink how they plan learning experiences.

Reference Furnival, S. (2025, October). Fresh Approaches to Instructional Design: An educator with 20-plus years of experience on crafting creative and energizing lessons. Edutopia. Retrieved from: https://www.edutopia.org/article/rethinking-instructional-design-tips-teachers/