Performing a Technical Needs Analysis Before Creating eLearning
Introduction
Effective training has become increasingly important for organizations to keep their employees up-to-date with the latest skills and knowledge in today's fast-paced world. One of the most common methods of training employees is through eLearning. However, before developing eLearning, performing a technical needs analysis is essential to ensure that your eLearning is effective.
What is a Technical Needs Analysis?
A technical needs analysis examines your organization's technology infrastructure to determine the technology requirements for your eLearning. This includes identifying hardware and software needs, bandwidth, and other technical requirements. The technological needs analysis ensures that your eLearning will run smoothly and that your employees can access and complete the course materials effectively.
Why is a Technical Needs Analysis Important?
Performing a technical needs analysis before creating eLearning is essential because it helps you identify any technology gaps or limitations that may impact the success of your eLearning. For example, suppose you don't perform a technical needs analysis. In that case, you may find that your eLearning is not accessible to all employees or that the course materials are slow to load or difficult to navigate. A technical needs analysis can help you address these issues before they become problems and ensure that your eLearning is practical and accessible to all employees.
How to Perform a Technical Needs Analysis
Performing a technical needs analysis is relatively straightforward and can be done in several steps:
Identify the target audience - Who will be taking the eLearning courses? What are their technical skills and experience? Knowing the target audience can help you determine their technical requirements.
Assess technology infrastructure - What hardware and software does your organization have in place? What is the bandwidth for your network and internet connection? This information will help determine if your technology infrastructure is adequate for eLearning.
Determine course requirements - What are the technical requirements for each course? For example, does the course require videos or interactive elements? Knowing the technical requirements for each course will help you determine if your technology infrastructure is adequate.
Identify technology gaps - Are there any technology gaps or limitations that may impact the success of your eLearning? For example, is your network bandwidth inadequate, or do some employees not have the necessary software?
Develop a plan - Based on the information gathered in your technical needs analysis, develop a plan to address any technology gaps or limitations. This may involve upgrading your technology infrastructure, purchasing new hardware or software, or working with a vendor to provide technical support.
Conclusion
Performing a technical needs analysis before creating eLearning is essential for ensuring the success of your eLearning program. By identifying technology gaps and limitations, you can ensure that your eLearning is effective and accessible to all employees. With a well-designed technical needs analysis, you can ensure that your eLearning will run smoothly and that your employees can access and complete the course materials effectively.
