What is the difference between Instructional Designing and Technical Writing?

[haggard]

Hi all,

Can anyone tell me the difference between instructional designing and technical writing?

[Osmethne]

Instructional Design is concerned with having their subject learn, retain and apply what they have learned. The main purpose of Technical Writing is to properly walk the reader through the steps of a process or task.

The former is the practice of effectively teaching and the latter a practice of effectively relaying a specific process.