Which of the following best describes the design phase's main activity?

The design phase is a crucial component of instructional development, where the primary focus is on planning instructional strategies. During this phase, instructional designers create an organized approach to how the content will be delivered, including selecting appropriate teaching methods, resources, and assessments that align with the learners' needs and the learning objectives.

Planning instructional strategies involves determining how to effectively engage learners, what types of materials will be used, and how to structure the curriculum to facilitate understanding and retention. This phase ensures that the subsequent development and delivery stages will be grounded in a well-thought-out framework, which is essential for achieving desired learning outcomes.

In contrast, assessing learners’ abilities is typically conducted in the initial analysis phase, evaluation strategies are typically outlined during both the design and development phases, and delivering training sessions pertains more to the implementation phase rather than the design phase.