This blog post will teach you how to use the ADDIE Model analysis and determine your training needs.
I present guiding questions that facilitate and shape the whole analysis process in training design.
The main question in applying the ADDIE model is: What questions help to analyse a learning problem?
The first phase in the ADDIE model is analysis. In this post, I go more into the practical part of ADDIE.
Table of Contents
In the eLearning world, there are many different models and methods for creating courses. The ADDIE model is undoubtedly the most popular of all. It is simple and intuitive to apply.
How to Use the ADDIE Model
ADDIE is an acronym where each letter corresponds to one of the main phases of the model:
- Analysis
- Design
- Development
- Implementation
- Evaluation & Assessment
A stands for Analysis. Before I come to the most important guiding questions for effective analysis implementation, a brief look at the history and the advantages and disadvantages of the ADDIE method.
The history of ADDIE
The ADDIE methodology was developed in the 1970s at the Centre for Educational Technology at Florida State University. Initially, the model was intended for use in the US armed forces. This is where the defined processes and the clear delineation of the individual phases come from.
Although the methodology is almost forty years old, it has not fallen out of use; it has remained the leading eLearning methodology to this day.
Advantages of AddIE
This popularity is due to the fact that ADDIE is easy to use, flexible and versatile. It is easy to learn.
Another advantage of ADDIE is that it is cyclical, which means that errors can be easily corrected, greatly improving the quality of the final product.
Disadvantages of ADDIE
Natürlich ist das Modell nicht ohne seine Nachteile. Die Linearität des Prozesses bei der Erstellung der Inhalte gilt als sein Hauptnachteil. Diese wirken sich sowohl auf die Kosten der Kurserstellung als auch auf den Zeitbedarf negativ aus.
Dies führte zur Entwicklung alternativer, agiler, entwicklungsbasierter Methoden zur Kurserstellung. Diese sind jedoch weder so einfach zu benutzen noch so bekannt wie ADDIE.
ADDIE Model Analysis – Leading Questions
So let’s learn about the practical application of the model and how it works. The focus is on concrete questions.
Addie Model Analysis – Main Guiding Questions
- Who is the target group?
- What learning objectives are to be achieved?
- Are there any organisational constraints?
- What are the technical requirements for the course?
- What are the typical features of the course?
- Are the necessary sources freely accessible?
- What criteria are used for assessment?
Let us now turn to the details of each question.
Who is the target group?
Who will attend the course? Are the learners’ subject matter experts or novices just taking their first steps?
Certain commonalities between target audience members (e.g., knowledge of a related subject area or general level of computer literacy) can significantly influence the look of the finished course. Age, gender, economic status, experience, education, and computer skills all of these characteristics are critical in determining how the learning material must be presented to maximise learning effectiveness.
Analyzing the target audience is one of the most critical points in the analysis phase. This procedure is also known as marketing and content marketing. The target group must also be correctly addressed in the instructional design to ensure the success of the training.
The next main question is, of course, what is to be achieved with the training in the first place.
What are the learning objectives to be achieved?
Before starting work on the teaching materials, it is important to identify the main learning objectives and communicate them clearly to everyone involved in creating the course.
- What will the course teach? (Learning Outcomes)
- What knowledge and skills will it provide to the learners who take it? (Learning Objectives)
If you have established these objectives at the outset, you will make your life much easier as you can ask yourself: “Does this page meet the needs of the course? Do the materials presented on it contribute to advancing any of the course’s objectives?”
Objectives need to be described in detail from the outset, and they need to be measurable.
Realise early on that the skills you want to teach in your course are unsuitable for e-learning and require live classes with workshops. If you identify this early on, you can save a lot of time.
Are there any organisational constraints?
Understanding the environment in which the course will take place is essential. Ask yourself the following questions:
- Are there any constraints imposed by the rules of the organisation you are designing for that need to be considered?
- Is the total duration of the course or the time allocated to study each module limited in any way?
- In what setting will the training take place? In a physical classroom/auditorium or online?
- Do the physical spaces meet all the course requirements, or can these requirements be met if needed?
- Will the environment affect the effectiveness of the training?
What are the technical requirements for the course?
During the analysis phase, it is necessary to formulate all the technical requirements and constraints of the course, especially if it is planned to use the course for online learning. Make sure you know and consider the following details before you start working on the course:
- The bandwidth of learners’ internet connections.
- Whether learners are equipped with the devices necessary for audio playback (sound cards, speakers, headphones and/or microphones).
- The list of software pre-installed on learners’ computers.
- The list of browser plug-ins (Java Virtual Machine, Flash, etc.) required to participate in the course.
- Which browser(s) learners will use to access the course.
What are the typical features of the course?
Information gathered in the previous analysis steps will help you determine the structure of the course. Have answers to the following questions ready before you start:
- Do you need to divide the course into individual modules and include step-by-step instructions?
- At what key points do you need to test knowledge acquisition and retention?
- What weight should be given to each test?
- Will the modules differ in size and importance?
- How will learners use the course material in the future?
Are the necessary sources freely accessible?
During the analysis phase, it is vital to assess the accessibility of the materials you will use in creating the course. Answer the following questions:
- Who or what will serve as the primary source of information?
- Are the necessary sources of information available internally, or will they need to be found elsewhere?
- Is there information on the subject of the course on the Internet? Is it easily accessible?
- Is there already written/created material on the topic? Perhaps another course previously used in the organisation?
- Are there Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) in the organisation who can help you work on the course by providing their knowledge and expertise?
- Will the Subject Matter Experts mentioned be available to help you prepare for the course?
What criteria are used for assessment?
You need to determine how the knowledge acquired by the learners will be assessed. It is helpful to have answers to the following questions:
- How exactly will students be graded on completion of the course?
- Will you use graded small-timed tests, or will the effectiveness of the course be measured by the practical skills learners acquire after completing the course and the corresponding increase in productivity?
- If you plan to assign grades to learners, what will be the grade they pass, and will a learner be able to retake a failed test to improve their score?
That’s all for this part of the leading questions in the Addie Model Analysis stage.
Ressources ADDIE Model Analysis
My research was guided by the following literature, among others.
- https://elearningindustry.com/getting-know-addie-analysis
- https://www.talentlms.com/blog/addie-training-model-definition-stages/
- https://educationaltechnology.net/the-addie-model-instructional-design/
- https://www.learnupon.com/blog/addie-5-steps/
If you enjoyed this article, I would be delighted to receive your comments and feedback.
German Version: Addie Modell Anwenden – Analyse Leitfragen
Featured Image: Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash
