Sub-Badge 1: Gap Analysis
Sub-Badge 1: Gap Analysis
Challenge 1: Conducting a gap analysis
Criteria for successful completion of this challenge: This challenge focuses on conducting a gap analysis to describe the nature of a learning or performance problem and propose potential instructional and/or non-instructional solutions and strategies. Gap analysis is a process of determining the gap between actual situation and desired situation as well as the root causes of this gap.
Reflection must address: How did you determine or identify the learning or performance problem, including data sources you used? How did your artifact demonstrate your competence in each of the performance statements?
Reflection
I have selected the Design Document for the Digital Multimeter project as the artifact to demonstrate how I conducted gap analysis. I have selected this artifact because gap analysis was the most fundamental and important part of the project to establish a strong necessity to develop the Digital Multimeter lesson plan.
This competence is important because every project starts with identifying a gap (or a problem) and in turn, a need to invest and develop the solution. In the case of instructional design, a need clearly identifies and shows the gap between where the learner ought to be and where the learner currently is. Examples of how this artifact demonstrates this competency include the following:
The first section of the design document is the Project Overview which contains the Gap/Needs Analysis Diagram. The diagram is essentially a table which shows the needs analysis in the form of a simple equation: Desired Status – Actual Status = Need. These three ‘stats’ become three columns in the table and details about each are filled in by the designer. This helps the designer clearly define where the need for the project exists. The actual status of learners was determined by collecting student performance data and conducting basic observations in a lab setting.
My previous knowledge in project management helped me understand the importance of doing a thorough needs analysis as an initial and important step in developing this project. At my workplace, I have developed curriculum for teaching basic computer literacy skills for students. In this project, I saw a strong need for students to acquire these skills as we found that lack of it was hindering student performance in online testing scenarios.
My design document for the Digital Multimeter project worked as an appropriate artifact for the Gap Analysis challenge because the needs analysis portion is clearly documented in it. Some important things I learnt while earning this challenge include the importance of needs analysis, how to critically think and problem solve to determine needs, and how to clearly document it. In the future, I will always incorporate Gap Analysis into every ID project in order to justify costs, resource allocation, achieve clear outcomes, and deliver impact.