I sat in on some training yesterday, and the trainer was discussing task analysis…I have a love\/hate relationship with task analysis, because within the military, these are often very tedious to develop. However, they are important. I understand that.<\/p>\n
Task Analysis<\/strong><\/p>\n A task analysis involves breaking down a task into each step and sub-step required to complete the task. It seems simple enough, right? Task analysis are important when it comes to breaking down the components of a task to ensure effective training. Often times we take for granted things we already know how to do, but when we’re trying to teach someone else how to do a certain task, the learner needs to know each of the elements required to effectively complete the task.<\/p>\n For example, the task “Make a latte” involves more than just a cup, espresso, and milk. It may require:<\/p>\n – Selecting the appropriate sized cup<\/p>\n – Selecting a steaming pitcher<\/p>\n – Remove milk from fridge<\/p>\n – Pour milk into steaming pitcher<\/p>\n – Steam milk<\/p>\n – Brew espresso into cup<\/p>\n – Remove cup once espresso has finished brewing<\/p>\n – Pour steamed milk on top of espresso<\/p>\n Now, these are just some of the steps, but within these steps, there are sub-steps. For example:<\/p>\n – Steam milk<\/p>\n – Place steaming wand in milk<\/p>\n –\u00a0Place thermometer in pitcher of milk<\/p>\n – Activate\/turn on steaming wand<\/p>\n – Begin aerating milk<\/p>\n – Steam to a temperature of X<\/p>\n – Remove pitcher of milk<\/p>\n – Wipe steaming wand down<\/p>\n – Turn on steaming wand to clear milk residue<\/p>\n – Turn off steaming wand<\/p>\n And within these sub-steps, there may be even more sub-steps. When conducting a task analysis, you really want to break down the original task into the most painful of details (and sub-tasks).<\/p>\n Within the military, this often involved extremely lengthy Job Task Analysis spreadsheets, that would further break down whether each task and sub-task was considered a knowledge, skill, or attitude. These further breakdowns will allow you to better refine the\u00a0way<\/strong> in which you train the user how to do the task\/sub-task.<\/p>\n Ensure you’re concise with your task analysis and that you’re only including one task or sub-task per item. Nothing should piggyback on top of one another…that’s just lazy and will become ineffective when you move on to develop training.<\/p>\n Task analysis are also useful when working with other developers (e.g. programmers or media developers). You can use a task analysis to describe the breakdown of media or programmatic (or both) elements, and then you have a detailed account of what should happen and when so that these developers have a greater understanding of how to develop the content they’re developing.<\/p>\n Stay tuned for a time-lapse demo and freebie of a task analysis template!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n Task Analysis in Instructional Design by Donald Clark<\/a><\/p>\n How to Do a Task Analysis Like a Pro by Articulate<\/a><\/p>\n