Elements of Needs Assessment in the context of training Elements of needs-based training Needs-based training requirements Needs-based training requirements review

Meaning of Needs-based Training To determine the actual needs of the training participants/ trainees, it is not based on assumptions Deficiencies or inadequate skills to perform their jobs To know their jobs, their organizations mission, visions, objectives, organizational structures, services/products Identify implementation strategies, record keeping systems and monitoring devices, What are trainees requirements to know to perform their jobs properly or improve their job?

Teachers Training Needs Assessments Participants feel they have inadequate knowledge/skills of the topic(s), Participants want more knowledge to improve their job skills Trainees anxious about their job knowledge Identify participants level of knowledge/ skills to perform their assignments in their jobs For teachers training program, training components are Identify needs of the teachers Curriculum development Evaluation of training

Criteria to Identify Needs Identify the level of the knowledge/skills Determine level of trainees anxiety during the assessment period. The anxiety scaling could be 1-5. Select right person(s) for the needs assessments Ask relevant questions: What they need Be diplomatic, tactical and smart Know about the existing curriculums of the teachers training programs Know the organizational structures/programs/policies Interrelationships of the stakeholders of the organizations/programs Use face to face dialogue Create a safe environment for open communication Warm up the conversations Take away supervisors Keep dialogue anonymity (report anonymously) No blame Explore genuine interest of the organization needs, trainees needs

Needs Assessments Elements Appraisers should listen and observe very carefully Be cooperative and flexible Ask question to all levels of the people involved in the program What training do you need” What can you contribute to the training? What are your specific problems? Do not speculate/assume Assessor must be bias free and remain open to ideas Use “best practices’ as point of reference Interview people on-site Use simple language Use institutional terminology that the organization/program, institutions’ texts Solve problem together Recap of on-site interviews, dialogues and experience

Needs Assessments Elements Do not pressure for ideas rather encourage to provide information on issues Do not try to get everything in one-time event/session Develop a support network Collect names and their contact information Ask for feedback after training Ask, ask, and ask what they need Always keep the program, organizations mission, vision, objectives and organizations standards in mind. Share examples of the best practices of the same types of organizations/programs Cite best curriculums Present curriculum training tailored to staff needs

Needs Assessments Elements Review the organizational standard Prepare a flexible and adaptable document for future change Review the document by the technical expert Share the findings and suggestions with the related stakeholders Make checklists of the most common agreement of the needs Submit the final needs assessments report to the executive and discuss in person if need further clarifications Advise executives use needs assessment report as a guide lines for organizational/employees development Respect for needs

In Case of Training Curriculum Development Use needs assessments report as a guide for development of need based curriculum Use field training as much as possible on clients sites. Provide training with local examples, stories visual arts, films and music Provide examples best practices tailored for the program Collect feed back about the trainings

Post-needs Assessment Tips Present training tailored to staff needs Make more observation and focus on staffs needs Rethink about the appropriateness of the suggestions Discuss what a future monitoring will demand Ask for feedback about new documents of the needs assessments Occasional visits to know the perceptions of the trainees of the new training curriculums and observe anxiety levels of the participants

Needs Assessments Tips Training needs based purely on observation and performance Record ongoing process of training development and review the new requirements Review trainers performance Develop a support network Mentoring trainees network and suggestions for fulfilling their future needs and development