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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:

Jason, You've done well, but there are some places that need some clarification. 1a. Think about the type of course you are designing. Is it a course that Gwinnett County will require computer science teachers to take so that they can turn around and teach Java programming to other in the Introduction to Programming course in their schools? If so, the context would be a course titled something like: "Teaching Java Programming." I may be confused on your intentions. 1b. Although you included that the program will consist of face to face instruction, what other platforms will be used? Computers, manuals, textbooks, handouts, PowerPoint presentations? 4b. You provided excellent examples of hypothetical data that would result from the reports and your surveys. 6. I am a little confused with your problem statement. You want to make sure that the problem statement is written with the GCPSS as the subject of the problem. By doing this, GCPSS is clearly responsible for the problem and this shows that they need to 'take action' to resolve it. I think this is how your problem statement should look: "The Gwinnett County Public School System (GCPSS) does not adequately teach the Java programming language to Computer Science teachers so that they are prepared to teach the Introduction to Programming course to their students" if this does not look right to you, email me and we'll figure it out. Everything else looks good. Please email me if you have any questions. Lindsay

 

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:

Gwinnett County Public Schools Computer Science Staff Development

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:

Gwinnett County Staff Development workshops are offered over the summer to help prepare, train, and provide an avenue for collaboration for teachers. Gwinnett County Public School System consists of over 106 total schools, 18 of which are high schools. Each high school has 1-2 teachers that provide instruction in the discipline of Computer Science. The staff development course will have two instructors and approximately 20 teachers attending the staff development. Delivery will be face-to-face. The main focus of the workshop will be the Java programming language and preparing teachers to teach Java.

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:

The leaders at Gwinnett County Public Schools have mandated that Introduction to Computer Programming be taught using the Java programming language. The previous language used was Visual Basic. Only 4 of the 18 teachers state that they are proficient in Java.

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:

If Computer Science teachers are not proficient in Java they will not be able to teach students the programming skills necessary.

The instructor's feedback to step 2:

No specific feedback given on this step.

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:

Computer Science teachers are not adequately prepared to teach the Introduction to Programming course using the Java programming language.

The instructor's feedback to step 3:

No specific feedback given on this step.

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:

Interview teachers and administer a diagnostic test on Java.

Your final response:

14 of the 18 teachers have expressed that they feel as if the need training to first learn Java and additional training on teaching Java to students. A diagnostic test was administered to teachers to gauge their Java programming ability and 14 scores were below the profiency level.

Your final response:

Teachers did not score at or above the proficiency level on the diagnostic test administered (Normative need) Teachers have stated they do not feel prepared to teach Introduction to Programming using Java (Felt 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:

No specific feedback given on this step.

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 have stated they do not feel prepared to teach Introduction to Programming using Java (Felt) 2. Teachers did not score at or above the proficiency level on the diagnostic test administered (Normative)

Your final response:

While teachers should have a good working knowledge of Java it is not imperative that all teachers achieve a proficient score on the diagnostic test. However, teachers should feel comfortable that they can adequately teach Introduction to Programming in Java and feel confident enough that given their level of experise they would be successful.

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:

Gwinnett County Public School Computer Science teachers do not feel adequately prepared to teach the Introduction to Programming course using the Java programming language.

The instructor's feedback to step 6:

No specific feedback given on this step.

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) Teachers will demonstrate the ability to use multiple methods and accommodate multiple learning styles when teaching various concepts in Introduction to Programming. 2) Teachers taking the staff development will demonstrate the ability to write, test, and debug programs using the Java programming language.

 

Your final response:

The ability to use multiple teaching tools to teach Introduction to Programming is necessary for teachers to be successful in teaching Introduction to Computer Programming. This will enable teachers to feel confident in their ability to teach programming concepts in a number of ways. Additionally, if teachers have the ability to write programs they will have the ability to provide guidance to students as students are completing daily programming assignments, projects, etc.

The instructor's feedback to step 7:

No specific feedback given on this step.