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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:

Martha, Although there are some issues that I address below, you did well on this IDA. Please pay close attention to the feedback I provided for #1,6,7. Good luck with the rest of the IDAs! 1a. Your context tells me that there is a need for instruction in the Newton County Recycling Center, but it does not tell me which aspect of the recycling center needs the instruction. From your problem statement, I would suggest that the context be something like "Recycle Awareness Education." Notice from Lloyd's example, the context is Instructional Design Course, which is more specific than just the University of Georgia's College of Education. 1b. You do explain where the instruction will take place, but I'd like to see additional information such as "this is an optional course open to community members in Newton County, Georgia." What platforms will be used in this course/program? Classroom, videos, PowerPoint presentations, instructions on proper disposal of certain types of waste, etc... Will Newton County Recycling Center employees teach this class? Review Lloyd's example. 2. "*Less than 38% of residents recycle 1 to 2 items" is this 1 to 2 times a week? month? year? 4b. You provided excellent examples of hypothetical data that would result from the reports and your surveys. 5a. Your needs are well written! 6. Be careful here. Remember, in order for the Instructional Design process to be applied, the problem that you have chosen MUST BE SOLVED USING INSTRUCTION. Your problem statement should be written with a little more confidence in the fact that education/instruction will solve the problem of lack of recycling in Newton County. I'd like to see your problem statement look more like this: "The Newton County Recycling Center does not adequately educate residents on protecting the local environment by recycling." 7. For your instructional goals, it is best to get in the habit of using the "student will be able to..." (SWBAT) format that Lloyd suggests. You'll be doing this in future IDAs. Your goals should be written in terms of what Students will be able to do 'after' they complete instruction, which was provided by the Newton County Recycling Center. So, an appropriate instructional goal is that "students will be able to use color coded bins to correctly recycle certain materials" 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:

Newton County Recycling Center

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:

Newton County Recycling Center is a department within the Newton County Waste Management Department. Each county in Georgia has their own Recycling Centers and Waste Management Departments. Newton County has ten neighborhood recycling center located throughout the county. All residents of Newton County may utilize these centers.

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:

*Less than 25% of Newton County residents recycle all items that can be recycled *Less than 38% of residents recycle 1 to 2 items *Many items recycled are not prepared properly *Landfill space is near capacity *Newton County's population is increasing therefore new landfill space will need to be acquired

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:

*The less we recycle the more space will be taken in the landfill *If items are not recycled then more will need to be created (due to demand) increasing deforestation, dependence on fossil fuels, global warming,... *Jeopardizing further environmental damage *Endangering animal and human health

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:

The Newton County Recycling Center needs to inform the residents of Newton County about recycling, its facilities, and the results of not recycling.

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:

* Survey of Newton County Residents * Newton County Landfill and Recycling reports * Scientific data and reports

Your final response:

* Residents of Newton County do not understand what items can be recycled or where to take their items to have them recycled. * They do not make a connection between landfill space and recycling. * They do not understand the impact recycling can have on the environment. * The survey also show that the residents think it will be too much work and that their participation cannot make enough difference to justify their inconvenience.

Your final response:

* residents need to recycle more * residents need to be informed and impact of the consequences of not recycling * residents need to know what can and how to recycle * residents need to know where the recycling centers are located * residents need to have a simplified system for recycling * residents need to be educated on how their participation can make a difference

*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:

* residents need to recycle more (Expressed) * residents need to be informed and impact of the consequences of not recycling (Anticipated & Comparative) * residents need to be educated on how their participation can make a difference(Expressed) * residents need to have a simplified system for recycling (Felt & Comparative) * residents need to know what can and how to recycle (Felt) * residents need to know where the recycling centers are located (Felt)

Your final response:

The primary goal is to have Newton County residents recycle everything possible. They will not do this if they are not informed of the consequences or are not able to see that their contribution can make a difference. They need to be educated on the positive and negative outcomes of recycling or not recycling. The Newton County Recycling Center needs to come up with a way to make it simple to recycle whether that be via color coated bins or education on setting up an individual home system or both. Residents need to know what can be recycled in our county and how to prepare it for recycling as well as what determines this (demand - a company must want to buy/collect the item). Finally, residents need to know where their nearest drop off recycling center is located.

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:

The Newton County Recycling Center does not encourage recycling via education or simplification of its system.

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:

The Newton County Recycling Department will: * The county will recycle in all departments (court house, schools, library,...) using color coated bins at convenient locations. * Visit schools at all levels to provide education using skits, demonstrations, and visual aids * Utilize the local newspaper to provide information about what, how, and where to recycle as well as the consequences to Newton County if the residents choose not to recycle. * Provide information broachers at local grocery stores and shopping areas focusing on what, how and where of recycling. * Set up information centers at local events/fairs promoting the positive of recycling and the negative of not recycling * Promote field-trips for students and local community groups/clubs to the recycling center showing * The county develop a web site explain the what, how and where of recycling as well as education on the consequences of not recycling.

 

Your final response:

The best way to teach others is by example that is why it is the top priority for Newton County to start by example. If Newton County would simply make it the standard within all its departments to recycle than this standard would carry over into the employees’ and students’ private lives. If Newton County promulgates recycling but does not do it themselves it will not be perceive as a true need. Having the recycling bins out in the open will further promote this cause but will also provide education in the color coating system. The other goals fall under educating the residents. Without the education of the consequence of not recycling, they simply will not be inconvenienced to recycle. Providing a clear simply way to approach setting up a system will enable residents to follow through and not be overwhelmed with the additional (yet minimal) effort. Making this information available at multiple locations is necessary to ensure everyone has access. Forty percent of Newton County residents fall below the poverty level and subsequently do not have computers therefore a web site can be a resource but not the only resources. The overarching goal is to have 100% of residents recycling. This is best accomplished by making it the norm for the community to recycle. Just as years ago no one thought or said anything if someone threw their trash on the ground – today they would feel the scorn of those around them. If Newton County’s Recycling Center can make it the expected/accepted behavior of all its residents then they will have achieved their goal.

The instructor's feedback to step 7:

No specific feedback given on this step.