What is a theory? What is an instructional theory?

What is a theory?

A theory is an explanation or set of explanations that define something.

A hypothesis is developed as a tenable explanation for something. The researcher then tests the hypothesis somehow. If the hypothesis is supported, then the hypothesis becomes a theory that continues to undergo additional testing and validation. If the hypothesis is not supported, it is revised based on the experiment and then is tested again.

Thus a theory is a constantly evolving hypothesis that serves to explain something.

An instructional theory is an explanation or set of explanations that define instruction. This is a broad definition and hence there are a multitude of different types of instructional theories. Different people look to define different elements of instruction, thus different theories are developed to define different elements of instruction.

The value of instructional theories is that they draw me to different elements of instruction that I may not have thought of before. Thus, instructional theories help me to flesh out my own explanations and definitions of what instruction is and should be. This is why I can analyze instructional theories and in many cases find elements that seem intuitive to me. This is because those specific elements are intuitive to me. In other words, I have already defined that specific aspect of instruction in the same way that the theorist has presented the element. The real exciting experiences in researching theory is when the theory addresses an aspect of instruction that I have not previously though about. At this point, I have an opportunity to evolve my understanding of instruction. The greater my definition of instruction, the greater number of opportunities for design decisions I have.

As an example, if I define instruction as a function of content and pedagogy, then all of my design decisions are constrained to those two elements. If I then learn about principles of instructional aesthetics,  then I have increased the domains of my designs (as well as the complexity).

Design Theories address the different ways that domains are configured in instruction to work together to achieve some instructional objective. These are the most important types of theories in terms of expanding or constricting my design decisions.