Instructional Technology Portfolio

MIT 530 Training Needs Assessment Annotation

Context

This project was developed as a partial requirement for MIT 530: Evaluation and Change in Instructional Development in the spring semester of 2004 under the direction of Dr. Sue Jen Chen. The client for this project was the Center for Teaching Excellence at UNCW and we worked with its director. The project required conducting a needs assessment study to identify a performance problem identified by the director of the CTE. The perceived problem was identified to be low participation and involvement in CTE programs by UNCW faculty. However, our job, as analysts was to analyze the situation and identify the problem, its causes, and propose a list of solutions. The final report consisted of the results of the needs assessment and a list of recommended solutions. The theoretical model for needs assessment used was described by Allison Rossett (1987). The Training Needs Assessment (TNA) model provides an approach to analyzing performance problems in the form of researching and identifying actual and optimal performance followed by gathering extant data and input from stakeholders and other data relevant to people concerning feelings, causes, and solutions. The needs assessment was conducted by interviewing stakeholders and surveying the faculty. The final report consists of an introduction to the findings, implementation plan, data analysis, results, interpretation and recommendations.

Conditions

The needs assessment team consisted of Paul Ritchie, Patsy McQuiston, Patrick Gunn, and I. UNCW personnel were very cooperative. The team collaborated in gathering data available through CTE and had permission to collect any other necessary data. The team thought it would be important to gather data from faculty that were and were not attending CTE workshops. Therefore, an on-line survey was generated. The webmaster assisted in developing an on-line survey for faculty. There was no budget for the project, but there was a timeline to submit the report in order for implementation to occur the following academic year.

Scope

The report was submitted to the CTE director and the Associate Vice Chancellor of academic affairs as a proposal. Currently, there is no data available indicating whether or not CTE acted on the proposal.

Role

As a team member I assumed the role of researcher gathering, assessing data, and making sense of that data. I developed and administered the online survey, collected extant data, and conducted interviews. I also played the role of analyst in which I practiced analyzing the system and identifying the problem as well as its causes and solutions.

Reflection

Teamwork and planning is an essential part of conducting a needs assessment. This team provided many individual strengths as well as teamwork in order to bring this plan into fruition. The entire team attended every interview together and conducted themselves in a highly professional manner. Feedback on individual parts was free flowing and timely. The only concern was the responses received from the faculty on the survey. I think that if there had been more time, this would not have been an issue. The report reflects this team’s ability and professionalism.

This was the first project in the program in which I had to interact with a client that was a part of an unfamiliar system. I learned valuable skills on how to interact with a client and analyze a system from an objective point of view.

Competencies	Job Descriptions	Evidence	Rationale
Domain of Instructional Design
Conduct performance analysis and determine the appropriateness of instructional solutions for the problem	Assess training and performance needs of client population.	530 project - Training Needs Assessment Report	This report illustrates the processes for conducting a thorough training needs analysis
Plan and conduct needs assessment.	Assess training and performance needs of client population.	530 project - Training Needs Assessment Report 530 project - Faculty Survey Instrument	These artifacts illustrate the processes of a thorough front end analysis on a macro level. The front end analysis consists of a needs assessment, learner analysis, and context analysis.
Assess learner/trainee characteristics.
Analyze the characteristics of a setting (learning environment).
Domain of Utilization
Apply leadership techniques with individuals and groups (interpersonal skills, group dynamics, team building and diffusion of innovations).	Facilitates school participation in technology programs and activities Promotes family, business, and community partnerships that support the academic success, career readiness, and general well-being of all children.	530 project - Training Needs Assessment Report	This project report illustrates leadership techniques used with individuals and groups to develop interpersonal skills, enhance group dynamics, build teams and promote diffusion of innovations.
Promote the diffusion and adoption of the instructional development process.	Conducts staff development in areas of technology integration, technology skills and competencies for educators.	530 project- Training Needs Assessment Report	This project report illustrates leadership techniques used to promote diffusion of of the instructional development process.
Domain of Management
Organize the instructional project or service unit to operate effectively and efficiently.	Works with teachers and technology staff in the selection of resources that are compatible with the school technology infrastructure	530 project - Change Management Plan	This report illustrate the tools used to organize a macro level project in order to ensure effective and efficient operation.
Plan and implement organizational change.	Assists in planning and implementation of instructional technology program	530 project - Change Management Plan	This report illustrate the tools used to organize a macro level project in order to ensure effective and efficient operation.
Design instructional management systems	Assists with planning and the design of the technology infrastructure so that information resources are continually available to the school community	530 project - Change Management Plan	This report demonstrates the ability to design instructional management systems.
Domain of Evaluation
Plan and conduct needs assessment.	Assess and design training and performance needs of client population.	530 project – Training Needs Assessment Report	This report illustrates the ability to plan and conduct instructional evaluation as well as analyze evaluation results.