WLD-NAY - Needs Analysis
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Course Description
Why do so many learning solutions fail to achieve their anticipated impact? The fault most often lies upfront in the design cycle - with a failure to understand the needs of the organization and learning audience. In this course, you’ll examine how to conduct a proper learning needs assessment, a key step in ensuring that learning is aligned with the correct workplace performance issues and focused on the right skill and knowledge gaps. You will learn match the best needs analysis methods for a variety of situations, practice various techniques for collecting and interpreting data, and prepare a needs analysis plan. Through practical exercises and case studies you will strengthen your own ability to analyze situations and confidently present recommendations.
Online Course: 3-5 hours of work per week (including discussion, assignments, readings, research)
Learner Outcomes
Critical Performance Statement:
By the end of this course, learners will have demonstrated the ability to...
Apply a systematic process for conducting a learning needs analysis that will focus the solution design on required learner and business needs and target the right skills and knowledge.
Learning Outcomes:
To achieve the critical performance described above, professionals will have demonstrated the ability to...
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Explain the importance of a learning needs analysis in the design of a successful learning solution.
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Plan an effective needs analysis matched to a variety of organizational situations.
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Conduct task and competency analysis to identify knowledge and skills required for performance.
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Select effective data collection methods for assessing needs at various levels.
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Develop and present recommendations that support learning needs and priorities identified.
Recommendations
The course requires a computer and online access to the OISE course environment, as well as the ability to connect online to other websites and resources as required. Important: You may require the ability to download tools and software in order to experiment with various technologies. We will encourage you to get comfortable with creating accounts with various social media sources (LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.).
Certificate of Completion:
Upon successful completion of the program, you will be issued a digital Certificate of Completion from OISE Continuing and Professional Learning at the University of Toronto.
Applies Towards the Following Certificates
- Adult Learning and Development : Compulsory Courses
Elizabeth Gowan is a seasoned learning and development professional with over 20 years of experience driving strategic capacity-building across public, private, and educational sectors. A proud alumna of OISE, she holds a Master’s in Adult Education, and is known for integrating organizational strategy with inclusive, evidence-based pedagogy. As a professor and consultant, Elizabeth designs and facilitates high-impact training for diverse audiences, including executives and educators. Her work champions equity-centered learning, communication excellence, and organizational transformation. A Certified Training and Development Professional, she is recognized for elevating facilitation standards and advancing inclusive design in adult education.