©2006 Richard Watson Todd Finding the Needs of KMUTT students

©2006 Richard Watson Todd n Why are you here? n What do you hope to gain from this Forum?

©2006 Richard Watson Todd Types of needs n Language needs –Specific work language needs –Specific academic language needs –General proficiency needs –Personal language needs n Learning needs n Non-linguistic objectives/needs n Wants / Preferences n Current competencies n LACKS

©2006 Richard Watson Todd Some guiding questions n What type of needs? n Who defines the needs? n Can we predict the needs? n What is the current situation?

©2006 Richard Watson Todd Gathering data n Distribute questionnaire to students n Analysing current situation n Analysing institutional requirements n Identifying key stakeholders n Surveying stakeholders n Obtaining detailed information n Learning theory

©2006 Richard Watson Todd Analysing the current situation n Analysing test and assessment scores n Document analysis of course descriptions, materials etc. n Obtaining and analysing teacher and student feedback on courses

©2006 Richard Watson Todd Analysing institutional requirements n What does the university require? n What does the government require? –National Education Act –Ministry of Education standards

©2006 Richard Watson Todd Identifying key stakeholders n In analysing current situation, tests to current students, course feedback from teachers and current students n Students –Prospective students –Graduated students n Lecturers from other faculties n Employers

©2006 Richard Watson Todd Surveying stakeholders n Open v. closed surveys n Interviews v. questionnaires n Qualitative v. quantitative data

©2006 Richard Watson Todd Obtaining detailed information n Document analysis of academic and work texts n Analysis of sample language use n Expert sources n Literature review

©2006 Richard Watson Todd Learning theory n Survey experts for how people learn n English teachers for what is appropriate n Avoid fads!

©2006 Richard Watson Todd Task n Set up a scheme for finding the needs of KMUTT students –Do you need to analyse the current situation? If so, how? –What institutional requirements need to be taken into account? –What stakeholders should be surveyed? And how? –What detailed information is needed and how to obtain it? –What learning theory to apply?

©2006 Richard Watson Todd Constraints n What is not possible to do in the context? –E.g. covering technical terminology n What is methodologically impractical? –E.g. using CALL to teach speaking n How does time affect things? –Need to prioritise needs

©2006 Richard Watson Todd DANGERS n Relying too heavily on one source n Predetermining results –Focus of surveys –Forms of questions –Personal biases n Not eliciting key issues –Respondents cannot answer what they are not aware of