Introduction

The first thing you'll need to do is to come up with an idea for your multimedia project. Think of something your learners need to learn that could be taught using multimedia. Once you have a general idea you'll need to determine what it is you want the learners to do when they finish with your instruction. Generally you do this by performing some sort of a Needs Assessment.

During the Needs Assessment the designer attempts to identify the problem, then the causes of the problem, and then identifies an array of solutions that could be implemented to solve the problem. The Needs Assessment leads to the identification of one or more well-defined instructional goals. Goals are usually stated in terms of new skills, knowledge, or attitudes that you want the learners to acquire. This includes what the learners will be able to do when they complete the instruction, and the real-world context in which they will have to use these new skills.

Click below if you'd like more information about Needs Assessment and Goal Identification.

More Information

Multimedia Design Document: Sections 1 and 2

Section 1: Needs Assessment

The first section of your multimedia design document should contain a description of your learning need and a well-stated instructional goal. We'd like you to begin by thinking about an instructional problem that could be addressed through the creation of a multimedia program of some sort. Keep in mind that a multimedia program can consist of a wide array of components, including:

  • Text

  • Graphics

  • Animation

  • Digital Audio

  • Digital Video

Your final multimedia product will need to include examples of each of these components, so try to come up with an idea that could incorporate all of these in one way or another.

Once you have an idea for a project, write a paragraph describing your learning need. This paragraph should address each of the following points:

  • What is the general topic for which you wish to develop an instructional program?

  • Who are the learners that you will be designing for? Include any learner characteristics that might affect the decisions you make regarding the development of an effective learning environment. These might include cognitive abilities, previous experiences, motivational interests, and personal learning styles.

  • What is the instructional need you have identified? What can't the learners do related to your general topic that you want them to be able to do?

  • What makes you think that the need can be best addressed through the creation of a multimedia instructional program?

The Needs Assessment will become the first part of your design document. Label this section Needs Assessment.

Section 2: Goal Statement

The next step is to identify an instructional goal and generate a goal statement. Based on your Needs Assessment, write a meaningful, worthwhile goal statement that can serve as a starting point for developing a unit of instruction. Your goal statement should include the following:

  • The learners - who you want to accomplish the goal.

  • What the learners will be able to do.

  • The performance context in which the skills will be applied.

  • The tools that will be available to the learners as they attempt to accomplish the goal in a real-world context.

Your goal statement will become the second part of your design document. Label this section Goal Statement.

At the end of this first step in the instructional design process, you should have a description of your learning need and an appropriate, feasible, and clearly stated instructional goal. The next step will be to develop an instructional analysis.

Submitting Sections 1 and 2 of your Design Document

At the end of this lesson you will submit your completed assignment. This assignment (Lesson 2: Needs Assessment and Goal Statement) should be prepared using Microsoft Word. At the top of your document you should have the lesson name, and underneath that should be your name, email address, and the date. When you save the document as a file on your computer, make sure the file is named : mmneeds. After you have saved your file, go to the student interface and submit your assignment for grading. Click here if you need additional information regarding submission of your assignment.


Assignment: Needs Assessment and Goal Statement
Points:
20

Grading Criteria:

Needs Assessment

  • Needs Assessment describes general topic for which they wish to develop an instructional program. (2)

  • Needs Assessment describes who the learners are. Includes any relevant learner characteristics. (2)

  • Needs Assessment describes the instructional need - what learners can't do that they want them to be able to do. (3)

  • Needs Assessment describes why they think the need can be addressed by the creation of a multimedia instructional program. (3)

Goal Description and Statement

  • Goal Statement describes the learners that they want to accomplish their goal.(2)

  • Goal Statement describes what the learners should be able to do. (2)

  • Goal Statement describes the context in which the learners will attempt to accomplish the goal. (2)

  • Goal Statement describes the tools that will be available to the learners. (2)

  • Goal statement is meaningful and worthwhile. (2)