Using IPL in Learning Needs Assessment

© 2010, Shawn SimpsonUsing IPL in Learning Needs Assessment Page 1

Using IPL in Learning Needs Assessment

Shawn Simpson


Overview

Needs Assessment

Overview

Levels• Impact• Performance• Learning

Variables• Sources• Methods• Information Required

Needs• Felt• Ascribed• Real• Non-learning

Gap• PSA• FSA


Importance of Learning Needs Analysis

LearningNeeds Analysis

IPL* Needs

Defines Gap

Indicates ITL* Requirements

Depth of Needs = Scope of Design

Identifies Learners’Preferences

Suggests Real-worldBenchmarks

Learning Objectives

Evaluation Strategy

Learning Design

Delivery Methods

Follow-up Evaluation*IPL = Impact, Performance, Learning*ITL = Impact, Transfer, Learning


Why Assess Needs?

To develop short and long range training plans

To define training opportunities

To help decision makers set training priorities

To substantiate decision maker’s choices

To develop support for training initiatives


Types of Needs

Felt Needs: needs perceived by the targeted learners

Ascribed Needs: needs perceived by others (not the targeted learners)

Real Needs: a “match” of ascribed and felt needs

Felt and ascribed needs that don’t “match up” are non-training needs

- Could be resource issues (equipment, etc.) or personnel administration issues (discipline situations, etc.)

Felt Needs + Ascribed Needs = Real Needs


Preliminary Scans

A brief statement of either the presumed problem or the presumed resolution to the problem

- Presumed problem: presentation at the current situation

- Also called the “present state of affairs” or PSA

- Presumed resolution: presentation of the desired outcome

- Also called the “future state of affairs” or FSA


IPL Defined

Impact:

- The level in which the current vs. desired results are investigated

- Inquiries deal with topics such as profit/loss, image, or overall efficiency and productivity

Performance:

- The level in which the current vs. desired behaviours are investigated

- Inquires deal with learner’s on-the-job performance

Learning:

- The level in which the current vs. desired knowledge, skills, and/or attitudes (KSAs) are investigated

- Inquiries deal with job requirements or current training programs


How IPL Helps

Defines the need (or gap) from three perspectives:

I P

L

Non-trainingNeeds

Non-trainingNeeds

Non-trainingNeeds

SecondaryNeeds

SecondaryNeeds

SecondaryNeeds

Real Needs:The Gap

What Is (PSA)

What Must/Should Be (FSA)


Variables in Learning Needs Assessment

Three primary variables when conducting the needs assessment:

- Sources

- Any individual, group, or document in possession of relevant information

- Information Required

- The needs assessment’s topics of investigation

- Methods

- Data collection methods

- Within the three natural divisions of data collection – asking questions, observation, and document review – the options are numerous


Needs Assessment Strategy

“Plan of attack” for conducting a needs assessment

- Outlines the IPL scans from the client (identified as either “present state of affairs” (PSA) or “future stated of affairs” (FSA)

- Defines the detailed data about each level that needs to be collected, as well as the source(s) and method(s) to collect this data

- Note: in a pure form, the source column will include at least 1 non-human (documentation) source

- Can also details the relative time (T), cost (C), and respondent involvement (RI) for each data item


Thank you!

For more information on how I can help with your organization’s learning needs, or to see other presentations, visit my website:

http://www.shawnsimpson.net

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Using IPL in Learning Needs Assessment