Learner Needs Assessment By Willian Lemos

However, assessing the needs of your adult learners may have some difficulties. According to Grant & Shank:

Traditional questionnaires … may not be appropriate or effective for all learners, particularly those with limited literacy skills. In addition, the concept of participating in instructional goal-setting can be strange to adults from other cultural backgrounds where learners expect the teacher to set the course objectives.

Doing needs assessment in early lessons or first meetings will help foster the feeling that you, the teacher, and your learners are collaborators in the learning process. It will also give you a basis for planning future lessons.

✻✻Preference for learning alone, in small groups, or in large groups

✻✻ Ear/eye preference

✻✻ Preference for observation vs. participation

✻✻ Use of language analysis, rules, and explanations

✻✻ Preference for immersion

✻✻ Use of translation

✻✻ Use of visuals

✻✻ Uses of rote learning

Keep in mind that needs assessment is an ongoing process. As a student learns more and his or her life situation changes, his or her goals will also change. Therefore, his or her needs should bere-assessed periodically.