Finally, in the fourth purpose, needs assessment may be used to identify curriculum requirements for instructional design purposes. Needs assessment in this instance is more like a task analysis involving a specific analysis of the task of an occupational role prior to designing instruction. However, this may require considerable effort and resources and is therefore usually undertaken after the previous three purposes have been achieved, and as part of specific program development requirements once a new program has been approved. Once the specific purpose is determined, the needs assessment can be planned and conducted with the results being used for planning and decision making. In the second part of this two-part series, we will examine guidelines for conducting the needs assessment effectively.
Summary Needs assessments are essential to academic program planning in post-secondary education.
The program planning process. A how-to manual for skills training programs. A guide to negotiating power and interests. The state of the art in needs assessments. Why needs assessment.