Learning Needs Assessment

Planning a professional program can be a challenging task, therefore, following steps like needs assessment designing goals, objectives, content, presenters, teaching methods, evaluating the process, and basic marketing needs ensure developing a successful educational program. Learning needs assessment is the first step which guides the planner to set educational activities appropriate to the target audience needs, experience, and knowledge. Assessing the needs can be achieved by gathering data using techniques such as surveys, questionnaires, interviews and quality assessment adding to that forming a planning committee can help in validating audience needs and ensure that the program design promotes optimal learning(1)

The second step is designing

The selected methods should relate to the audience learning styles, levels of expertise, and achievement of the behavioral objectives. The most common teaching method is the basic lecture format followed by a question-and-answer period. Thus, a variety of other teaching methods such as the use of facilitated videos, skill training, case scenarios, poster presentations, study guides, games, pre and post tests, group break-out sessions, abstract presentations, self-learning packages, role-play, and computer-assisted instruction can be utilized. A format relevant to the audience and program content which promotes participant involvement fosters active learning, and provides diversity for learning styles should be selected. Large groups often prefer slides or video enhancement in contrary to smaller groups where workbooks, overheads, group discussions, or slides can be used. Audiovisual are an important part of the presentation to the audience. The visual material needs to be sharp, clear, and organized. Similarly, the audio must be clear, intelligible, and follow a pace appropriate to the program and audience. In order for attendees to concentrate on listening instead of writing notes, a detailed outline of the program for each presented topic should be given to the audience. Moreover, presenters can share copies of

This can provide the planner with the opportunity to see the strengths and weaknesses of the program and allows them to improve their developmental skills for future events. Therefore, the program planner should design a well-planned evaluation tool that assesses the effectiveness of faculty, relevance of content to the overall program and if participants have achieved their personal objectives as well as the objectives of the program. Evaluation tool should also include a question asking overall quality of the program, physical facility appropriateness, and suggestions for future topics and locations, are also beneficial to the evaluation process. A feedback of the evaluation should be sent to the presenters for future growth and program improvements