5.+Needs

 =Why is a needs assessment important to the success of any project? = There are many reasons why a needs assessment is a crucial first step. To begin with, if you are going to design instruction you must know the abilities of the people you are designing the instruction for. To do this, you must ascertain their ability levels and the needs that they have. Another reason to conduct a needs assessment is to see whether or not an instructional solution is what is required. As Dr. Rieber mentioned in his video, if the problem is not an instructional problem then an instructional solution will not work. I thought his example of a hearing impaired student was particularly to the point. Will instruction help them to hear better or will a hearing aid? It reminds me of the caricature of the "ugly American tourist" who comes across someone who doesn't speak English and, instead of trying to find a way around the language barrier, simply talks louder. The needs assessment is also a time to establish the time lines for the project as well as the budget. These two items become very important as either one, or both, can affect how the project is organized and carried out. Our book had a great ID Insight on page 67 that is relevant to this; namely that fast, cheap, and good, the three sides of the Media Production Triangle, are wonderful in theory, but only two can be accomplished during any project. I would argue that this is true of any ID product (and of most things in life). An instructional designer who could create a good product quickly is not going to be cheap, and any who is cheap and fast will probably not be good. Finally, I think that the needs assessment is an important way to begin the work. By beginning with a well planned and methodical assessment of the needs of the learners, the client, and the product, one is more likely to bring that same organization and methodical approach to the entire product.

= What are the key elements for conducting a needs assessment that are included in all perspectives? = =  =  There are a variety of ways to conduct a needs assessments. These can be used in a wide range of different situations, but the all have several things in common. All seek to identify what the problem, or need, is. All want to establish where the gap is that is creating the need. Have the learners, workers, etc. not been properly trained? Are these people properly trained, but unable to complete their tasks appropriately? Is there something that is preventing them from bridging the gap? Is there a motivation issue? Is an instructional change the best course of action? Where will this instruction take place? When will it occur? What will be the best format for the instruction? What is the time line and budget for the project? All of these questions are key questions that must be answered no matter which needs assessment model is followed.

= How can I better use needs assessment as a teacher? Why would I do so? = The field of teaching is under increasing pressure to make certain that every student learns the standards (some might say to make sure that no child is left behind . . . ). At the same time, students come to school increasingly diverse in their abilities. Some come from families where education is highly valued. Others have families that value many other things, and education is not one of them. In the midst of all of this is the teacher. It is the teacher's job to design instruction to meet the needs of all of the students that he or she sees. This is where needs assessments can be crucial to any teacher. What abilities do your students have? What abilities are they missing? What type of instruction will best meet their strengths while still conveying the content? A needs analysis would be a great help for any teacher who wants to reach all of his or her students. With a solid understanding of his or her student's strengths and weaknesses, a teacher could do a much better job of modifying curriculum so it not plays to a student's strengths, but also challenges their weaknesses in a reasonable way. There are two potential pitfalls to using needs assessment in a "typical" school setting. The first is mastery of the skills needed to conduct a needs assessment. Training wold be required and, I am sorry to say, teachers are not the most trainable people around. Perhaps a needs assessment of the teachers would be needed before they received any instruction! A further issue, and one that I think is even more critical, is time. I have yet to teach at a site or in a district where there is the significant unencumbered time that one would need to conduct such an in depth analysis. This is especially true as it would be on-going. Hopefully, the students are responding to the instruction and their needs are changing, which would require modification of the needs assessment. Although needs assessment is something I can see myself considering while evaluating what students need, I see time as a limiting factor is the rigor of any needs assessment that I could currently conduct regarding my students.

Information on Instructional Design models for EDET 722 based on information from: Brown, A. & Green, T. D. (2006). The essentials of instructional design: Connecting fundamental principles with process and practice. Upper Saddle River: NJ: Pearson

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