Needs assessments can be conducted before and during an educational effort, to assure that a program is reaching its audiences with appropriate information. In these four plans, the needs assessment helped identify target audiences. Three plans also stated that the results of the needs assessment were going to be used to evaluate how audience members perceptions and behaviors change over time. The study suggests that educators might consider using more surveys and discussion forums as a way of quantifying specific needs of the people living in the watershed. The ERC study shows the complexity of an educator s job.
Many factors enter into education planning.
Educators need good information about audiences to target their energy and resources. The ERC study suggests that priority watershed projects should consider conducting needs assessments to more clearly define action-oriented objectives and to identify audience subgroups who might benefit from participating in water quality education programs. Results of audience research can also help educators select appropriate communication strategies and activities and define messages. Ryszard Zolnik also contributed to this evaluation of watershed plans.