Quality Teaching Framework, Needs Analysis and Program Evaluation

The process of undertaking a needs analysis is a key element of planning and delivering educational programs. It forms a distinct and necessary phase in educational planning process and is a critical input into program design. The following essay will outline the theory underlying the implementation of a needs analysis and using an example student group as an example will explores how a needs analysis can be performed and applied to to effectively design a student learning program with reference to at the ‘professional standards for accomplished teaching of language and culture’ and ‘professional teaching standards. Finally, a succint outline of various teaching strategies for evaluating this program is presented.

Determine the student’s needs

Achugar & Shleppegrell (2007) highlight that teachers’ need and responsibility to have a detailed understanding and knowledge about both the language and tools to analyse and learn languages, as well as understanding the demands the subject matter poses to students and what the students individual development needs are. This is very important as it contributes to secondary school teachers’ understanding of language in their disciplinary areas and enables teachers to engage with their students and discuss language in the context of disciplinary learning.

Literacy knowledge

As a teacher, it is vital to not only understand the students needs in regards to the level of literacy knowledge each student currently is at. This is a crucial element to to support their students’ literacy development and to provide the appropriate level of difficulty in lesson content and suitable tools to enable students to critically analyse the texts being used. Literacy involves the integration of speaking, listening and critical thinking with reading and writing. Australia’s Language and Literacy Policy (1991) suggests effective literacy development is intrinsically purposeful and dynamic, and continues to develop beyond the realms of the...