Adult Education: Needs Assessment & Evaluations

Adult education reflects a specific approach about learning and teaching based on the theory that adults can and want to learn, that they are able and willing to take responsibility for that learning, and that the learning itself should respond to their needs.  As important as learning techniques and course design are; it is equally as important to determine what the needs of the group are when choosing the materials for training, designing program delivery and evaluating whether the lessons have addressed the strengths and needs of the individual participants.

One of the steps in an instructional course is determining the purpose of the course; another step is evaluating the results from a course.  A needs assessment is part of the planning processes and is often used to better understand the ‘why’s’ for having the training and the people who will be attending.  An evaluation is about making a judgement about the value of something.  It helps you see what was accomplished and how was it accomplished.  Both are effective tools to simplify problems and identify the right interventions or solutions.  The results of a needs assessment and an evaluation can guide you in decision making – including the design, functioning, and evaluation of projects and programs, that will lead to achieving your goals.

At the end of this course, you will have the answers to the following questions:

• What is a needs assessment & what is an evaluation?
• What steps are involved in conducting a needs assessment? What steps are involved in conducting an evaluation?
• What aspects of a needs assessment are important to its success? What aspects of an evaluation are important to its success?

Click here to watch a preview of the course.