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

Instructional Design Activity: Needs Analysis

 

Overall Instructor Rating: Exemplary

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:

Very nice job!

 

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:

Madison County High School classroom

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:

The MCHS classroom is part of high school system which is included as part of the entire Madison County Schools. The school is part of larger community and strives to produce well educated citizens. The school and classroom represent part of the entire system of education within the state of Georgia. The high school teaches a variety of subjects (social studies, english, math, vocational) and uses different classroom environments (lab, traditional) to accomplish this task.

The instructor's feedback to step 1:

No specific feedback given on this step.

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:

There is a lack of technology used within the classrooms. Students appear apathetic and bored in many classes. Predominance of traditional methods of instruction that are textbook driven. Low scores on standardized tests.

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:

Students who are not actively engaged in the learning process are more likely to score poorly on tests. Research indicates the lecture delivery mode of instruction to be one of the least effective. My own classroom observations show that students are more capitivated by contemporary media (TV, internet, cd-rom, video games). Most of society must interact with techonology at different levels.

The instructor's feedback to step 2:

This is a much better problem statement, but not really focused on your target audience.

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:

MCHS is not implementing technology into instructional practices which would increase teacher effectiveness and create more engaged learners.

The instructor's feedback to step 3:

MCHS Teachers?

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:

Educational Research State Test Results Teacher interviews Student Interviews Surveys of other schools Follow-up surveys of In-Tech participants

Your final response:

Research articles on the impact of technology used to enhance student interest and retention. State test scores as published by Georgia Dept of Ed. and other States in our region. Teacher and Student opinions on technology in the class room. Results of surveys from other counties. Survey results from teachers involved in technology integration programs.

Your final response:

Research indicates better scores and increased engagement in classes that use technology vs. traditional lecture method. (normative?) Other schools increasing the use of techonolgy in the classroom (comparative) Teachers need more training in using technology (expressed) State test scores are lower than other states in the region. (comparative) State standardized test scores show little improvement over the past three years. (Normative) Teachers and students indicate some boredom in classroom. (Expressed) Students need to be more actively engaged in the learning process. (felt) Lack of knowledge about how to use instructional technology and limited computer skills. (expressed) Use of computers only for record keeping and creating worksheets.

*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

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

Prioritized needs

Reasons/evidence for priority

Your final response:

1. Teachers need more training about how to implement instructional technology in the classroom. (expressed) 2. Students need to be more engaged and actively involved in the learnin process. (expressed) 3. State test scores need to increase (normative)

Your final response:

Teacher training in the implementation of technology will increase student engagement which in turn will lead to better test scores. We can't make all of our classes like video games, but those are very engaging activites. Funding our a lack of it will determine how need for increased technology will be solved. State test scores will increase as a result of improved techniques of classroom instruction.

The instructor's feedback to step 5:

No specific feedback given on this step.

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:

Staff development and in-service training at MCHS need to focus on increasing and effectively using technology in the instructional process at the high school.

The instructor's feedback to step 6:

Great

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:

1. Staff development programs with follow-up for each department on effective use of technology in classroom. 2. Study other schools with successful techonolgy based instruction departments or programs. 3. Publish or share technology based lessons with-in departments. 4. Create resources for teachers to use that include technology in the instruction process. 5. Increase funding for the purchase of equipment that can be used in the classroom.

 

Your final response:

It is important first to train teachers and show them how the techonolgy can be implemented and used successfully. Also, other schools that have used technology and media can be visited to look for systems and ideas that can borrowed. As teachers begin to develop lessons and units, peer evaluation can be an important step in improving instruction.

The instructor's feedback to step 7:

No specific feedback given on this step.