Billie's Journal #2

Needs analysis, task analysis, and analyzing the learning are processes that are commonly used among educator on a daily basis. However, after reading the assigned chapters it has become apparent that is a more meaningful purpose to each of the components individually. Often an educator's behavior become routine or habit and the tasks we do on a daily basis are just done, forgetting the purpose for each.

Rosette's Five Step Approach seems to be the best approach for for needs analysis within the classroom. The five questions: what does the learner know, how is the learning preforming, what is the attitude of the learner, what is the reasoning for not preforming, and what is the solution are often used when creating daily lesson plans. I constantly try to tap into a learners background knowledge in the classroom through the use of drills, graphic organizers (KWL charts), and asking what do you already know. Pre-assessments also give me some documentation about what a student knows. Mini-assessments (formative evaluation) can be given to track what they know after each experience. Examples of a formative assessment might be: exit ticket, reading/answering questions, or listing.

After reading each of the models used for task analysis I found the best approach for me is the Dick, Carey, and Carey's Instrutional Analysis. First I define a goal. What specifically do I want the learners to gain knowlegde about or accomplish. Then I identify the appropriate steps to get there. For example I might look at the Unit Assessment and determine what I want to to know, then I would teach each of the experiences so that concepts the concepts are introduced to the learner.
Once I am done teaching each experienc then assess the learner. This is similar to a heiarchical approach.

Paying attention to your learners can often times determine if they are engaged. When a learner is not preforming we will discuss these issues at our team meeting. In middle school we teach with a team of teachers which is good for learners at this age. It can be determined by a group of educators that there is a problem. Sometimes this is documented and other times we decide in our classroom what we can do to make the learner successful.

Analyzing learners is continously being done though the first two analysis. Along with needs and task as and educators I also have to factor in the age and maturity of the learners, especially 7th grade. What motivastes them at theis age and do they have an special talent that ccould help them to becaome better learners.