Don’t Skip the “A” in ADDIE

In my work in the instructional design space, I utilize the ADDIE learning method. ADDIE is an acronym that stands for Analysis-Design-Development-Implementation-Evaluation.

The initial step in the ADDIE process is the analysis. This is the step where instructional designers take time to get to understand the problem. They review with the stakeholders the goals/desired outcomes.

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The way that I approach the analysis stage is to conduct a needs assessment. A needs assessment is just that–a baseline understanding or evaluation of the need/s. It involves understanding the desired outcome, evaluative measures, learners, and capabilities of the training systems, if any.

My needs assessment involves understanding how much time the stakeholder is willing to provide to a learner to complete the training. Is this going to be something where we have to train within a few minutes (like a just-in-time learning management course) or within an hour (like a synchronous or asynchronous classroom training structure).

I also want to understand the need in terms of a project. Meaning, I look at it based on the three part of project management: scope, time, and resources/money. I need to know this in order to ensure that I fulfill the stakeholder’s desires, said or unsaid.

I have known several instructional designers (and I have been personally guilty myself) that skill the “A” step or make assumptions about it without really understanding it. This is something you want to avoid–take the extra time to conduct the analysis so that the design process starts out great.