Needs analysis

Needs analysis

1. Is direct mainly at the goals and content of a course

   • The outcomes of needs analysis must be useful for curriculum design.

2. It examines what the learners know already and what they need to know.

3. Involves asking the right questions and finding the answers in the most effective way

   • Discovering needs
     • suggests a range of methods for discovering needs.
       • written responses to a structured set of questions, diary writing or some other form of extended written report, group activities such as voting, ranking, brainstorming, or problem solving.

4. The various focuses of needs analysis

   • Necessities
     • Focus: proficiency, situations of use
       • Method: Self-report profiency testing
         • Example: Level of vocabulary knowledge
           • takes into account student participation
   • Lacks
     • Focus: Profiency, situations of use
       • Method: self report testing
         • Examples: vocabulary tests, examiners´ reports
           • takes into account student participation
   • Wants
     • Focus: Wishes, use
       • Method: Self-report, observation
         • Example: records of choices of activities, teachers´ observations
           • takes into account student participation

5. Types of needs

   • Objective needs
   • Subjective needs

6. Questions for focusing on needs

   • Language: what will the course be used for'
   • Ideas: What content matter will the learner be working with?
   • Skills: How will the learner use the language?
   • Text: What will the labguage be used to do?

7. Evaluating needs analysis

   • is a kind of assessment and thus can be evaluated by consider- ing its reliability, validity and practicality.
     • Reliable needs: involves using well-thought-out, standardised tools that are applied systematically.
       • Valid needs analysis: Involves looking at what is relavant and important.
         • Practical needs analysis: is not expensive, does not occupy too much of the learners’ and teacher’s time, provides clear, easy-to-understand results