Content Analysis

According to Jonassen et al. (1999), the task analysis process consists of 5 discrete functions: (1) inventory task (2) describing task (3) selecting task (4) sequencing task and task components (5) analyzing tasks and content level. In the following passage, we will explore each to find the possible tasks and sub-tasks for our Albert registration tutorial. 

1. Students need to know the Albert registration process listed in the Albert Registration Guide. 

2. Students need to identify what other resources they can use for registration.

1. Students need to know all the information in the Albert Registration Guide including course search, add/ enroll class, drop classes, swap classes, edit swap, edit enroll, waitlist, and class withdrawal. Students need to know each of them.  

2. Students need to identify resources other than Albert which can help them with registration. They may include (1) their academic advisors (2) department-specific resources (3) the department student support team (5) Advising & Student Services. 

1. For the Albert Registration Guide, we will focus on tutoring (1) course search and (2) add/enroll classes since more than half of our survey participants strongly believe they are necessary to be included. Similar percentages of people believe drop/ swap classes, edit swap/ edit enrollment/ and withdraw are neither necessary nor necessary to be included in the Albert registration guide. They feel neutral about it. Therefore, we won’t focus too much on them at this moment. 

2. Our tutorial will include all resources other than Albert registration guide.

1. Students need to be aware of the recourses they have: (1) Albert-related resources (2) non-Albert related 

2. Students need to know how to categorize their problems, they can be either Albert or non-Albert related and look for the information in corresponding resources. For example, if it’s the problem with Albert navigation, they will resort to the Albert registration guide. If it’s the problem with compulsory or elective courses, they will look for other resources  

3. For Albert-related problems, students need to know all the registration processes including course search, add/ enroll class, drop classes, swap classes, edit swap, edit enroll, waitlist, and class withdrawal. (listed in the Albert Registration Guide) 

4. For non-Albert-related or course-related problems, students need to know the department's resources they can resort to such as the ALT Student Handbook, All Things ECT, Elective for ECT students.   

5. For non-Albert-related or course-related problems, students need to know who they can contact with questions. They are their academic advisors, professors, peers, and Advising & Student Services. 

6. In the end, students will be able to gather all the information and successfully register for their intended courses. 

• Remembering: At the end of the task, NYU students can name the resources they can resort to for course registration process. 

• Understanding: At the end of the task, NYU students can demonstrate their understanding of the registration tools. 

• Applying: At the end of the task, NYU students can apply their knowledge to navigate through the Albert interface. 

• Analyzing: At the end of the task, NYU students can categorize their problems and find the corresponding tools to solve them.   

• Evaluating: At the end of the task, NYU students can decide which resources they need to resort to based on the issues they face. 

• Creating: At the end of the task, NYU students can choose to register for courses based on their needs.

Albert Registration Tutorial is for 

1. ECT program only

• Pros: We know specific materials ECT students need such as the ALT Student Handbook, All Things ECT, and Elective for ECT students. Also, we know who we can ask for help. Therefore, we can provide very specific suggestions for the new ECT students. 

• Cons: Our design is not general for all NYU students but for ECT students only.  

2. All NYU students 

• Pros: Our design can help more NYU students.  

• Cons: Other than the Albert Registration Guide, we don't know our department's resources. So we can't provide specific suggestions like if you face the challenge, you should go to [a certain website]. We may end up providing general information that is not so helpful. 

• Brown & Green (2015) The Essentials of Instructional Design: Examining the Situation, Chapter 4 (pg 58-71)