Learning
Needs Assessment:
Who needs what as defined by whom?
(text accompanying PowerPointÒ presentation)
CDR John R. Holman, MC, USN
Faculty Development Fellowship
Madigan Army Medical Center
"Listening to learners wants and needs helps shape a program that is of immediate usefulness to adults." - Jane Vella, 1994
- Who-Who are the learners? What is their background? What do they already know? What is the culture they work in? How may it affect their learning?
- What-What knowledge, skills and attitudes need to be learned? What do the learners already know? What do they want to know? What do they need to know?
- Whom-Who are the customers, other than the learners? Does the RRC or Board require the knowledge, skills and attitudes? Does the hospital? Do the patients? Who defines the what?
The needs assessment is done before the learning session. It can be done by e-mail, fax, snail mail, personal interview, or focus group. Be sure to include all customers in the loop. The needs assessment is best done 2-3 weeks ahead of the learning session to allow for changes or alterations in the planned curriculum. If necessary, it can be done at the start of the learning session, but this can be challenging if not prepared to change what you have planned to teach.
The needs assessment may not change your planned curriculum. It can give you an idea of where to focus your efforts and time when teaching.
The three tasks for needs assessments are ask, study and observe. We can learn much from our learners and customers with these tasks.
