Dr. Sunil DuttProfessor, Education

National Institute of Technical Teachers Training & Research, Chandigarh

Task Analysis

Task Analysis

• Process of breaking down, or analyzing a task into smaller and more detailed constituent units and of then sequencing these units of analysis in an order of priority based on their importance in the learning.

• Analysis and synthesis

Approaches to Task Analysis

1. Task decomposition - splitting task into (ordered) subtasks

2. Knowledge based techniques - what the user knows about the task and how knowledge is organized

3. Entity-relation based analysis - relationships between objects and actions in the task

What is Task Analysis?• Methods of analysing people's jobs:

– what people do

– what things they work with

– what they must know

• In order to clean the house

• get the vacuum cleaner out

• fix the appropriate attachments

• clean the rooms

• when the dust bag gets full, empty it

• put the vacuum cleaner and tools away

• must know about:

• vacuum cleaners, their attachments, dust bags, cupboards, rooms etc.

Generating the hierarchy

get list of tasks

group tasks into higher level tasks

decompose lowest level tasks further

• Knowing what they do,

• how they do it,

• why they do it…

A task analysis is an intensive examination of how people perform work activities.

Tasks: A discrete unit of work performed by an individual, it has a beginning and an ending.

Subtasks : the smallest step into which a work activity can be divided.

Elements: a step within a step… separate time-motions

Task listing: A list of actions done in work.

Pro

cess

of

An

alys

isTask: Job, Topic or Skill

Less Detail

More Detail

Unit of Analysis

Unit of Analysis

UnitUnitUnit

UnitUnit Unit

Level 2

Level 3

Level 1

Level 4

Topic: Human Body

Level 2

Level 3

Level 1

Level 4

Head LimbsTrunk Skin

Face BackNeck Sides

Shoulders

Back

Stomach

Chest ArmsLegs TextureColour

Composition

Hair

Ears

ChinCheeks

Eyes

Nose MouthElbow

Hand

Wrist

Forearm

Upper

Nails

Back

Palm

Fingers

Thumb

How many levels?

How long is a piece of string?

Analyze until your task or job operations are covered completely

Task Analysis - A step by step process

Principles of Task Analysis

• Task analysis is accomplished by making succeeding Levels of Analysis

• Each level of Analysis produces its own Units of Analysis

• Each succeeding Level of Analysis is more detailed than the one before it from which it derives

• Each Level of Analysis and associated Units of Analysis follow logically and progressively from those which precede them

When considering a task analysis you can ask yourself initially:

• What duties does doing this job entail?• What tasks are performed in each duty?• What are the elements of each task?• What are the acts (actions) which go to make

up each element?

Types of Task Analysis

• Topic Analysis- A detailed analysis of intellectual tasks, e.g. Ohm’s

law, solving equations, etc.

• Job Analysis- A detailed analysis of tasks involving physical/

psychomotor skills- Concentrates on WHAT is done when task is carried

out, e.g. setting up a lathe, loading a film in a camera

• Skill Analysis- Further analysis of psychomotor tasks, but

concentrating on HOW the job is accomplished- Complex, intricate and subtle hand-eye coordination

Task analysis involves following activities:

• Identify the tasks to be analyzed.• Break these tasks down into between 4 and 8

subtasks. (subtasks to be specified in terms of objectives and, between them, should cover the whole area of interest.)

• Draw the subtasks as a layered diagram ensuring that it is complete.

• Decide upon the level of detail into which to decompose. Making a conscious decision at this stage will ensure that all the subtask decompositions are treated consistently.

• Continue the decomposition process, ensuring that the decompositions and numbering are consistent.

• Present the analysis to someone else who has not been involved in the decomposition but who knows the tasks well enough to check for consistency.

Sources of information

TASK ANALYSIS

Client

Course Material

Teachers

Course Exams

Master

Students

Observations, interviews, questionnaires, work diaries, film/CCTV, job checklists and activity lists

Job of an Engine Mechanic

Acquiring right kind of jack

Positioning the jack

Manipulating the jack

Task Elements

Jacking up the car

Placing oil container under

the sump

Removing sump plug

Allowing oil to drain

away

Duties

Tasks

Tuning the carburetor

Adjusting tappets

Changing engine oil

Cleaning the spark

plug

Adjusting spark plug

gap

Solving Networks By Kirchoff’s Laws

First Law Solving NetworksSecond Law

First Law

Conductors substances offering little resistance

Networks

Coulombs per second

Flow of electrons

Network of Conductors

Current

Algebraic Sum

Algebraic sum of

currents meeting at any

point is zero

Sum of incoming current equal to sum of

outgoing current

Energy must be supplied

for flow of electrons

Measure of rate at

which energy is supplied

Current meets

resistance in flowing through a

load

Depends on

nature of load

Current Algebraic Sum

Resistance

EMF

Describe risk exaggerated because of darkness

Black & White Film ProcessingTopic

Duties

Tasks

Task Elements or rules

Maintaining safety in the darkroom

Accounting for personal safety

Name the chemicals in use

Describe the individual danger of each chemical

State the dangers arising from spillages

Point out need for consideration for the safety of others

Demonstrate importance of awareness in the dark

Explain clearly emergency procedures for darkroom

Explain importance of

orientation within the darkroom

Job: Collection of Soil sample by auger boring

Level 2 Tasks

Level 3 Task Elements

Level 1 Duties

Level 4 Acts

Selecting Equipment

Make a Bore Hole

Locate and Clean Site

Collect Sample

Identify Equip.

Choose suitable auger

Clean site

Collect soil in poly

Remove A from hole

Seal envelope

Identify site

Locate site

Remove grass from test site

Land surface using appropriate tools

Operate auger

Assemble auger

Clean auger

Position auger on test surface

Insert auger into soil

Remove soil from A

Fix drill rod

Fix T junction & insert handle

Rotate auger

Push auger

Training Skills

Methods of Training & Learning

Course Design

Assessment and Evaluation

Training Context

Traditional Systematic

Analysis Synthesis implementation Assessment & Evaluation

Improvement

Need Analysis

Entry behaviour Analysis

Resource Analysis

Task Analysis

Constraints Analysis

Objectives Analysis

Determining Goals Ordering Goals Measuring needs Deciding on priorities

Purpose Input: List of Goals Staff Method Output

DC MOTORS

Principle WorkingConstruction

StrengthsPolarities

Electromagnets

Non-alignment produces

torque

Constant non-

alignment produces rotation

Brush and Commutator Arrangement

Alignment of Magnetic Field

Torque AngleMagnetic Field

Angle of non-

alignment of two fields

Torque depends on magnitude of torque

angle

Max. value of torque

angle

Job: Wiring a Plug

Duties

1. Colour Code 2. Prepare Leads 3. Attach Leads 4. Safety Checks

2.5 Strip the Leads 3.5 Secure gripper bar

2.4 Cut the Leads 3.4 Tighten the terminal nuts

4.4 Replace the cover

1.1 New Code 2.1 Remove Cover

Tasks TasksTasksTasks

3.1 Twist Standards 4.1 Polarity

1.2 Old Code 2.2 Remove the outer insulation

3.2 Route the Leads 4.2 Security ofLeads & Flex

1.3 Twin Flex 2.3 Identify terminals 3.3 Wrap Leads around the terminal

4.3 Correct value fuse

Topic: Solving Mathematical problems by using Logarithm Tables

1.1 Finding the characteristics & Mantissa of two numbers

1. Multiplying two numbers

2. Dividing one number by another non-zero number

3. Subtracting one Number from other

4. Finding ab

1.2 Adding the logarithms together

1.3 Antilogging the sum

1.4 Fixing the decimal Point

1.1.1 Locating first 2 significant figures of each Number in left-hand column of log. table

1.5 Connecting answer to appropriate number of significant figures

1.1.2 Locating third figure of each number in appropriate middle columns headed 0 – 9, and

1.1.3 Locating fourth figure in add column headed 0 – 9 on right-hand side of page

25

Rules of Sequence in arranging task elements

• Proceed from Known to Unknown

• Proceed from Simple to Difficult

• Proceed from Concrete to Abstract

• Proceed from Observation to Reasoning

• Follow correct chronological order

Benefits of Task Analysis

• Helping you design your lesson• Making sure that you have received all that

the learners need to know• Making sure that all of the fundamental parts

of the job, topic or skill are covered• Giving a basis for setting test questions and

test procedures where skills are involved• Helping you formulate objectives