CONTEXT ANALYSIS AND LEARNER CHARACTERISTICS

Describe the learning context and performance context and describe the general learner characteristics and how they are obtained (interview, experience, or hypothetical). Identify the entry behaviors on your instructional analysis diagram.

Compose a three to four (3-4) paragraph narrative that describes how the information was collected for each type of analysis along with a summary that synthesizes all of the information gathered for each analysis. Focus should be on insights that should shape and influence the instructional design package with attention paid to whether you are doing a self-instructional module or instructor-led module. Should a composed narrative prove burdensome to the design team they may present the same analysis and actionable insight in a well-organized and detailed table.

Learner Analysis Questions

(the characteristics of your learners or target audience):

1. What are the general characteristics of your target population? Examples include age, grade level, topic area, gender, etc.

2. Are there any entry behaviors that are not specific to your goal, and yet you feel are required for your intended learners to possess? (Entry Behaviors)

3. Do the learners already know something about the topic? (Prior Knowledge)

4. Do the learners have a positive attitude towards the content? Are they motivated to start the instruction? Do they prefer face-to-face learning rather than online - or vice versa (Attitudes Toward Content and Potential Delivery System)

5. Is it reasonable to expect them to want to learn what needs to be learned? Is the topic likely to interest them? (Academic Motivation)

6. Is it reasonable to expect that they can learn what needs to be learned? (Educational and Ability Levels)

7. Do they have any general learning preferences? (General Learning Preferences)

8. Do they have a positive attitude regarding the organization (company, school, university) providing the instruction? (Attitudes Toward Training Organization)

9. Are there any important group characteristics among your learners? How similar or diverse are they? (Group Characteristics)

10. How did you obtain this information regarding the learner characteristics?

Performance Context Analysis Questions

(Characteristics of the workplace setting where these skills, knowledge, attitudes (SKA) will be used after training)

1. What type of organizational support can they expect to receive when they use their new skills? (Managerial Support - or parental, coach, teacher, etc.)

2. Will the use of their new skills depend on certain equipment, tools, software, or other resources? (Physical Aspects)

3. Will they work independently or in a team? Will they work collaboratively, independently or with a supervisor of some kind? (Social Aspects of the Site)

4. How relevant are the new skills to the actual workplace? Will the new skills actually be used in an authentic environment? Are there any physical, social, or motivational constraints to the use of the new skills in the real world? (Relevance of Skills to an Authentic Environment)

5. How did you obtain this information regarding the performance context?

Training Context Analysis Questions

(the characteristics of the training setting and how they might impact your instructional design)

1. How many sites are there, and what are the characteristics of the sites? What equipment and resources are available? (Number and Nature of Sites)

2. Does the site include any tools or other items that are necessary for the learning of the goal? Are there any personnel or time constraints that you can identify? (Compatibility of the Site With the Instructional Requirements)

3. Are the sites convenient to the learners, are there necessary conveniences available, and is there adequate space and equipment for the expected number of learners? (Compatibility of the Site With the Learner Needs)

4. Does the learning environment adequately simulate the eventual work environment? Is there anything that can be done to make it more like the work environment? (Feasibility for Simulating the Workplace)

5. How did you obtain this information regarding the learning context?

List the entry Behaviors on an instructional analysis diagram.

REFLECTION

Include a brief reflection about your audience analysis. Reflect on the implications that the learners' characteristics will have for the instructional materials.

What implications will the learners' characteristics will have on the creation of your instructional materials? How challenging will it be to compose an authentic learning experience in your instruction? Did you Learning Context influence whether you are going with a self-instructional module or an instructor-led module? What factors should you consider if you are doing an online module?