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Learning & Development framework

The ADDIE Model Explained: Five Phases of Course Design

ADDIE is the default process model for building training. Five phases, in order, from diagnosing the need to checking whether it worked.

ADDIE is a five-phase framework for designing and building learning. The letters stand for Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, and Evaluate. It is the most widely taught process in instructional design, and its logic is deliberately simple: do not jump to making content before you understand the need and design the solution.

In one lineADDIE is a five-step build process: Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, Evaluate.

The five phases

  1. AnalyzeDiagnose the performance gap. Who needs to learn what, and why?
  2. DesignWrite objectives with Bloom's Taxonomy, outline content, and plan assessment. The storyboard is the key artifact.
  3. DevelopBuild the course, often in an authoring tool, and export it as a SCORM or xAPI package.
  4. ImplementDeliver through the LMS, enroll learners, and launch.
  5. EvaluateMeasure results, ideally with the Kirkpatrick model, and improve.

The limits of ADDIE, and the agile response

ADDIE is thorough, but it runs like a waterfall: each phase tends to finish before the next begins, which makes it slow and expensive to change course midway. The agile response is SAM, the Successive Approximation Model, which prototypes in rapid loops instead of one long sequence. ADDIE is still the most common starting point; SAM is the popular alternative when speed matters.

Key takeaways

  • ADDIE phases: Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, Evaluate.
  • Design produces the storyboard; Develop produces the course.
  • Its weakness is speed, since it works as a linear waterfall.
  • SAM is the iterative, prototype-driven alternative.

Frequently asked questions

What does ADDIE stand for?
Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, and Evaluate, the five phases of the model.
Is ADDIE outdated?
ADDIE is still widely used and taught, but many teams adopt faster, iterative approaches such as SAM when timelines are short or requirements shift.
What is the difference between ADDIE and SAM?
ADDIE is linear and sequential. SAM, the Successive Approximation Model, is iterative and builds prototypes in quick cycles, which suits fast-moving projects.

Related terms

Instructional designBloom's TaxonomyKirkpatrickMicrolearning

Last reviewed 2026-08-10. Recourse publishes these guides to help learning, customer education, and change teams. Figures and product details are drawn from public sources and vendor materials and can change.