Instructional design is the art and science of crafting effective learning environments. The main challenges in instructional design are about content or process. Content should be considered first. A key challenge is ensuring that authors write in a way that is engaging and actively involves learners. Technology is another important challenge, especially in distance education (DE). Developers must overcome their tendency to bring traditional teaching models to meet the challenge of rapidly changing technology. The way forward in online DE is for developers to use their local expertise to develop online resources and concentrate on integrating available resources and creating the context and environment that allows students to access the best materials available. Practitioners just beginning the process of instructional design for self-learning in DE need to consider the following components of a typical plan: the introduction; role of staff; student characteristics; subject description; aims and objectives; content outline; learning environment; interaction and activities; assessment; learning materials; student requirements; learner support; development schedule; and evaluation. (Twenty-eight print references and online resources are listed.) (MN)