Assignment 1: Front-End Needs Analysis

Due Week 3 and worth 160 points

Imagine that you work for an educational organization or a training department for an organization (e.g., K12, higher education, corporate training, military, or non-profit). Your organization is procuring a new Learning Management System (LMS) for online education or training needs. 

Note: You may use aspects of existing processes from either your current or a former place of employment. However, you must remove any and all identifying information that would enable someone to discern the organization[s] that you have used. You may also create and / or make all necessary assumptions needed for the completion of these assignments.

The following resources may help you with this assignment:

· Article titled “LMS Needs Analysis – Questions To Ask When Reviewing Systems”, located at http://www.funderstanding.com/educators/lms-needs-analysis-questions-to-ask-when-reviewing-systems/

· Article titled “Resources for Procuring the ‘Right’ Learning Management System”, located at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/training-and-development/reference-materials/procuring_lms.pdf

Write a four to six (4-6) page paper in which you:

1. Describe your organization and explain what kind of education / training it provides.

2. Explain the current systems and processes used for education / training in your organization.

3. Identify the key internal administrative and educational stakeholders from your organization that will access and / or maintain the LMS. Specify each stakeholder’s role for the LMS.

4. Determine at least five (5) key specific needs of the organization that you foresee will benefit from an LMS based upon the stakeholders’ roles. Justify your response.

5. Prioritize and classify the needs that you determined in Question 3 in order to select the right LMS for your organization. Justify your response.

6. Suggest a strategy for assessing proprietary and open-access LMSs to correspond with the needs of your organization. Provide a rationale for your suggestion.

7. Provide at least two (2) reliable, relevant, peer-reviewed references (no more than one [1] used previously), published within the last five (5) years that support the paper’s claims.

8. Format your assignment according to the following formatting requirements:

a. Typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.

b. Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length.

c. Include a reference page. Citations and references must follow APA format. The reference page is not included in the required page length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

· Analyze an organization’s learning needs and rationale for selecting a Learning Management System (LMS).

· Differentiate between proprietary and open-access LMS.

· Use technology and information resources to research issues in technology tools to manage learning.

· Write clearly and concisely about issues in technology tools to manage learning using proper writing mechanics.

· Grading for this assignment will be based on answer quality, logic/organization of the paper, and language and writing skills, using the following rubric.

Points: 160

Assignment 1: Front-End Needs Analysis

Criteria

Unacceptable

Below   70% F

Fair

70-79%   C

Proficient

80-89%   B

Exemplary

90-100%   A

1. Describe your organization and   explain what kind of education / training it provides.

Weight: 10%

Did not submit or incompletely   described your organization; did not submit or incompletely explained what   kind of education / training it provides.

Partially described your   organization; partially explained what kind of education / training it   provides.

Satisfactorily described your   organization; satisfactorily explained what kind of education / training it   provides.

Thoroughly described your   organization; thoroughly explained what kind of education / training it   provides.

2. Explain the current systems and   processes used for education / training in your organization.
  Weight: 10%

Did not submit or incompletely   explained the current systems and processes used for education / training in   your organization.

Partially explained the current   systems and processes used for education / training in your organization.

Satisfactorily explained the   current systems and processes used for education / training in your   organization.

Thoroughly explained the current   systems and processes used for education / training in your organization.

3. Identify the key internal   administrative and educational stakeholders from your organization that will   access and / or maintain the LMS. Specify each stakeholder’s role for the   LMS.

Weight: 10%

Did not submit or incompletely   identified the key internal administrative and educational stakeholders from   your organization that will access and / or maintain the LMS. Did not submit   or incompletely specified each stakeholder’s role for the LMS.

Partially identified the key   internal administrative and educational stakeholders from your organization   that will access and / or maintain the LMS. Partially specified each   stakeholder’s role for the LMS.

Satisfactorily identified the   key internal administrative and educational stakeholders from your   organization that will access and / or maintain the LMS. Satisfactorily   specified each stakeholder’s role for the LMS.

Thoroughly identified the key   internal administrative and educational stakeholders from your organization   that will access and / or maintain the LMS. Thoroughly specified each   stakeholder’s role for the LMS.

4. Determine at least five (5) key   specific needs of the organization that you foresee will benefit from an LMS   based upon the stakeholders’ roles. Justify your response.

Weight: 15%

Did not submit or incompletely   determined at least five (5) key specific needs of the organization that you   foresee will benefit from an LMS based upon the stakeholders’ roles. Did not   submit or incompletely justified your response.

Partially determined at least five   (5) key specific needs of the organization that you foresee will benefit from   an LMS based upon the stakeholders’ roles. Partially justified your response.

Satisfactorily determined at least   five (5) key specific needs of the organization that you foresee will benefit   from an LMS based upon the stakeholders’ roles. Satisfactorily justified your   response.

Thoroughly determined at   least five (5) key specific needs of the organization that you foresee will   benefit from an LMS based upon the stakeholders’ roles. Thoroughly justified   your response.

5. Prioritize and classify the   needs that you determined in Question 3 in order to select the right LMS for   your organization. Justify your response.

Weight: 15%

Did not submit or incompletely   prioritized and classified the needs that you determined in Question 3 in   order to select the right LMS for your organization. Did not submit or   incompletely justified your response.

Partially prioritized and   classified the needs that you determined in Question 3 in order to select the   right LMS for your organization. Partially justified your response.

Satisfactorily prioritized and   classified the needs that you determined in Question 3 in order to select the   right LMS for your organization. Satisfactorily justified your response.

Thoroughly prioritized and   classified the needs that you determined in Question 3 in order to select the   right LMS for your organization. Thoroughly justified your response.

6. Suggest a strategy for   assessing proprietary and open-access LMSs to correspond with the needs of   your organization. Provide a rationale for your suggestion.

Weight: 15%

Did not submit or incompletely   suggested a strategy for assessing proprietary and open-access LMSs to   correspond with the needs of your organization. Did not submit or   incompletely provided a rationale for your suggestion.

Partially suggested a   strategy for assessing proprietary and open-access LMSs to correspond with   the needs of your organization. Partially provided a rationale for your   suggestion.

Satisfactorily suggested a   strategy for assessing proprietary and open-access LMSs to correspond with   the needs of your organization. Satisfactorily provided a rationale for your suggestion.

Thoroughly suggested a strategy   for assessing proprietary and open-access LMSs to correspond with the needs   of your organization. Thoroughly provided a rationale for your suggestion.

7. Provide at least two (2)   reliable, relevant, peer-reviewed references (no more than one [1] used   previously), published within the last five (5) years that support the   paper’s claims.

Weight: 5%

No references provided

Does not meet the required number   of references; some or all references poor quality choices.

Meets number of required   references; most references high quality choices.

Meets number of required   references; all references high quality choices.

8. Writing Mechanics, Grammar, and   Formatting

Weight: 5%

Serious and persistent errors in   grammar, spelling, punctuation, or formatting.

Partially free of errors in   grammar, spelling, punctuation, or formatting.

Mostly free of errors in grammar,   spelling, punctuation, or formatting.

Error free or almost error free   grammar, spelling, punctuation, or formatting.

9. Appropriate use of APA in-text   citations and reference section

Weight: 5%

Lack of in-text citations and / or   lack of reference section.

In-text citations and references   are provided, but they are only partially formatted correctly in APA style.

Most in-text citations and   references are provided, and they are generally formatted correctly in APA   style.

In-text citations and references   are error free or almost error free and consistently formatted correctly in   APA style.

10. Information Literacy /   Integration of Sources

Weight: 5%

Serious errors in the integration   of sources, such as intentional or accidental plagiarism, or failure to use   in-text citations.

Sources are partially integrated   using effective techniques of quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing.

Sources are mostly integrated   using effective techniques of quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing.

Sources are consistently   integrated using effective techniques of quoting, paraphrasing, and   summarizing.

11. Clarity and Coherence of   Writing

Weight: 5%

Information is confusing to the   reader and fails to include reasons and evidence that logically support   ideas.

Information is partially clear   with minimal reasons and evidence that logically support ideas.

Information is mostly clear and   generally supported with reasons and evidence that logically support ideas.

Information is provided in a   clear, coherent, and consistent manner with reasons and evidence that   logically support ideas.