Return to the list of Needs Assessment IDAs | Return to the IDA Library Home Page

Instructional Design Activity: Needs Analysis

 

Overall Instructor Rating: Satisfactory

Ratings explanation:

  • Exemplary - A model answer in almost every way (this is given out very rarely).
  • Satisfactory - Very well done; you've met the expectations of the assignment. There are some minor problems, so read my feedback well.
  • Marginal Pass - You pass, but there are lots of issues to consider. Read my feedback very carefully and be sure you understand the points/issues I raise.
  • Not satisfactory, redo and resubmit - The assignment was not completed appropriately. I am concerned that you do not understand the process well enough yet. To get credit for the assignment, you need to redo it, most probably on another topic. Read and consider my feedback very carefully before redoing.

Instructor's Overall Feedback:

You did a good job here. You seem to understand the process well. Take a look at my feedback below.

 

1. Preliminary: Describe the context within which this potential instructional problem takes place. This will pinpoint where the problem is located. If instruction is deemed necessary, this will be the place where it will be designed and implemented.

a. List the context, also known as the "system of interest".

Your final response:

Developing Career Choices course

b. Describe or show how the context relates to the bigger environment. Show how this context relates to other levels of the system within which it works.

Your final response:

Developing Career Choices is an instructional function to be offered by the office of the counselor, within Washington-Wilkes High School. It is the only high school in the county system and one of 159 similar schools in the Georgia public school system.

The instructor's feedback to step 1:

Good

2. Symptoms of a problem. Write a brief description of some symptoms that make you stop and wonder if something is wrong.

Your final response:

Students in the high school, particularly upper classmen, are unaware of many of the opportunities available to them after graduation. Through informal discussion and observation, they show little knowledge of opportunities in the military, in the private sector, and at schools both academic and vocational, especially including available scholarships.

Using the evidence cited above, describe why you believe that these symptoms signal a problem. Keeping these questions in mind, describe the reasons for identifying these symptoms as problematic.

Your final response:

Data compiled at the school has shown low numbers of students who participate in any post-secondary experience. The incidence of joblessness among recent graduates is high. Surveys submitted by those in the senior year show that little information has been provided them about the options they may have available to them. While the downturn in the economy may affect post-secondary plans, the fact remains that in general, according to informal observation and discussion, most have not been made aware of opportunities in a broad sense.

The instructor's feedback to step 2:

This last paragraph sort has the two parts. Joblessness is the one part. It seems to be due to lack of knowledge about career opportunities would be the other.

3. Preliminary Problem Statement. Based on 1 and 2, write a preliminary draft problem statement. Your context should be the subject of the statement. This is just the initial pass -- the statement will be revised in subsequent steps.

Your final response:

The office of the counselor, in particular, is not providing adequate information to students who could substantially benefit from applying for scholarships, creating proper resumes, and making application to a variety of post-secondary schools.

The instructor's feedback to step 3:

Good

4. Verify the problem and determine specific needs. Two things will now happen concurrently. First, you need a systematic procedure to identify and collect data in order to verify that a problem exists. Second, you must identify information that the data sources may help uncover.

 

Data sources (who, what)

Information gathered

What did you find? (Needs)*

Example: Interview participants in course; administer class survey; administer test of understanding.

Example: Participant opinions on IDAs and course; Participant score on test.

Example: Participants believe there is too much jargon (felt need); Participants don't understand ID vocabulary as compared to other classes (comparative need); Participants don't score above national average (comparative need); Participants don't/couldn't see the relation between their work and the ID process)

Your final response:

-survey students as to the nature of their post-secondary plans; academic, vocational, etc. -conduct discussion groups with students about to graduate about what information they have been offered by the school -compile data including SAT scores (indicating possible post-secondary schooling), number of school applications pending, and interviews on an individual basis concerning plans for the future

Your final response:

-students have commented that they "just didn't know", or that now it was "too late" -there was no indication in any form that instruction was in place to deliver the information students felt was not provided -general comments were made by student leaders lamenting the lack of information on the part of the counselor's office

Your final response:

-student "unrest" was evident when scholarships that were available went unawarded (felt need) -students are unaware of the basic processes of application to vocational or academic schools, or even the preparation of a basic resume when compared to other students in nearby counties (comparative need) -recent graduate unemployment rates are higher than neighboring counties (comparative need)

*Note: You are not required to gather data; you can draw on your experience or imagination to list the data you might gather.

The instructor's feedback to step 4:

Good, but I like what you mentioned above as well, interviewing recent grads.

5. Prioritize your list of needs.Which are most important? Why are they most important?

Prioritized needs

Reasons/evidence for priority

Your final response:

-students should be provided information leading to informed choices concerning their future -students should receive instruction--what scholarships are available and how to apply, how to create a resume, and how to apply to a post-secondary school

Your final response:

-Confusion exists among students, indicated by surveys, discussion, and individual complaint by upperclassmen and their parents, about existing opportunities after high school.

The instructor's feedback to step 5:

Good, but this could be more focused on specific knowledge and skills

6. Rewrite your problem statement. Take a moment to look carefully at the initial problem statement that you wrote. Revisit your prioritized needs and check if your problem statement is still accurate and appropriate.

Rewrite the problem statement here:

Your final response:

Students are not being provided information by the high school about a variety of methods, such as creating resumes or completing applications, that could help them better determine their choice of careers.

The instructor's feedback to step 6:

Oops, this is a bit too specific. Resumes?

7. Identify the instructional goals. The last step in Needs Assessment is to list a few goals of instruction. Remember, not all goals can be solved through instruction. The instructional goals you identify will be the starting information for the next steps in the instructional design process. List the instructional goals in order of priority.

 

Instructional goals by priority

Reasons for importance

Your final response:

-programs should be implemented through the office of the counselor or the business department of the school to inform the students of post-secondary opportunities available to them -direct information about available choices (academic, vocational,etc.)should be provided to students on an individual basis

 

Your final response:

Providing students with pertinent information regarding their future increases the possibility of their eventual success

The instructor's feedback to step 7:

Good