Topic 2: Need and Task Analysis

NEEDS ANALYSIS

Instructional design is a process that requires a thorough analysis to determine and identify what change is needed to improve production or performance. A needs analysis or a needs assessment plays a crucial role at the start of the instructional design process because it is to get to the source of the problem by gathering specific information. Morrison et al's approach to a needs assessment is broken down into four phases: Planning, Data Collection, Data Analysis, and Compilation of the Final Report. Through Morrison et al.'s process, the needs assessment provides baseline data to assess the effectiveness of instruction while establishing priorities for selecting an intervention. It also highlights the critical needs and issues that affect performance (Brown & Green, 2020).

TASK ANALYSIS

Typically, after a needs analysis determines instruction is needed to help resolve problems identified, a task analysis is followed to gain a clear depiction of what learners must be taught. Jonassen et al. states that task analysis is a "process of analyzing and articulating the kind of learning that you expect the learners to know how to perform" (Brown & Green, 2020).  There are five functions of Jonassen et al.'s task analysis process: inventorying tasks, describing tasks, selecting tasks, sequencing tasks and task components, and analyzing tasks and content level. Review the descriptions by selecting a function below. 

After completing the task analysis process, you may wonder how successful the procedure went. An evaluation step should be in place to help indicate the effectiveness and accuracy of the task analysis. A few methods available would be to create a formative or summative evaluation. Additionally, subject matter experts (SMEs) who were not involved in the process can contribute valuable feedback on the task analysis.