Needs Analysis for Instructional Technology Projects

ABSTRACT

Instructional media production in the higher education environment is often rushed. Faculty propose instructional technology solutions to help deliver content to students or to teach in novel ways, and instructional technologists may create media or systems to meet the faculty member's specifications. Often this process does not fully consider the needs of the students who ultimately use the finished product. Instructional tools and media can be enhanced by including a needs analysis process before the development process begins. The role of needs analysis process is to use information gathered from the intended users of the product to inform the product's design and implementation. The authors will share examples of how needs analysis is conducted at their institutions (Williams College and Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences), how needs analysis has shaped the products they create for instruction, and how not including a needs analysis can result in a less effective finished product.

References

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Index Terms

• Social and professional topics

  • Professional topics

    • Management of computing and information systems

      • Project and people management

        • Systems analysis and design