For this activity you will complete an analysis of the learning context in which your instruction will be delivered. You will be completing a needs assessment and a description of the environment(s) where your instruction will take place. Since we are working with blended and hybrid learning styles you may need to examine multiple environments, such as but not limited to: face-to-face classroom, online via LMS, etc., or field sites. Post your needs assessment results and description of the learning environment to our blog at, and be ready to work with and share at October’s meeting.
What is the purpose of the needs assessment?
Determine why learning goals are not being met given current instruction.
Determine if current instruction is appealing to your learners.
There is a lack of instruction in a current area. (This is new instruction.)
New goals/standards are being added to the curriculum.
Significant changes in the learner population.
Based on conversations with most of you, it appears that you will be using a unit or course that has already existed in some format or creating a new course or unit within an already prescribed curriculum Therefore, I suggest using the Discrepancy Based Model for your needs assessment. Refer to Smith and Ragan, Chapter 3, pages 46-48 to read through the detailed process for guidance. This chapter is posted on the iTunes U site under October Readings.
1.) Conduct and write the results of your needs assessment. Your needs assessment should include the following sections. Use Chapter 3, pages 46-48 Smith and Ragan as your guide to completing your needs assessment. If you need assistance contact me anytime!
- List of current/existing goals for the instructional system.
- Determination of how well the identified goals are being achieved.
- Determination of the gaps between “what is” and “what should be”
- Prioritization of gaps according to agreed-upon criteria.
- Determination as to which gaps are instructional needs and which are most appropriate for the design and development of instruction.
2.) Write a description of the learning environment(s).
Since you are designing your own instruction this step can be somewhat informal, but nonetheless please don’t skip it. Write down the description so you can refer back to itt as you complete your instructional design process. Refer to Smith and Ragan Chapter 3, pgs. 49-50, posted on our iTunes U Course for a more descriptive discussion of describing the learning environment.
You will need to think about the learning system in which the instruction will take place. You should include the following information in your description:
- Characteristics of the instructor (you!) What are your interests and preferences. How you you see your role in the classroom (we completed this last month in the philosophy statement so this should be easy).
- Are there existing curricula into which this instruction must fit? If so, what philosophy or strategy, or learning theory is used within those materials?
- What technology is available to the learners (be very basic, such as internet, computers, projector, etc.)
- What are the characteristics of the classes and facilities where this instruction will be delivered?
What are the characteristics of the school system in which the instruction will take place?
