Siegfried Engelmann: Instructional Design 101: Learn from the Learners!

Interview Release Update: Professor Siegfried "Zig" Engelmann: Instructional Design 101: LEARN FROM THE LEARNERS! http://www.childrenofthecode.org/interviews/engelmann.htm

Siegfried "Zig" Engelmann is Professor of Education at the University of Oregon, the Director of the National Institute for Direct Instruction, and President of Engelmann-Becker Corporation, which develops instructional materials and provides educational services for students with various educational needs. The creator of "Direct Instruction", Professor Engelmann is also the author or co-author of more than 100 articles and chapters of professional books, and more than a dozen professional books and monographs.

"...if they [children] made mistakes, we assumed that it was not their problem, but ours...."

Professor Engelmann has spent decades working with at-risk children and developing a science of instruction based on what he learned from them.  He is a very controversial and polarizing figure. Many consider him to be one of the most brilliant and rigorous thought leaders in education and yet many others consider him to be the "Darth Vader" of top down instructional control. Whether you agree with him or not, his perspective and work is essential learning for anyone concerned with improving the effectiveness of instruction or in improving education in general. 

Altogether we spent 6 hours interviewing Professor Engelmann. This is the transcript of our first telephone conversation. The three-hour video interview transcript will be released later this year.  All in all we found him to be a man of great passion who is genuinely dedicated to improving the life-opportunities of children.