Graded Homework

The notion of the learning need can be straightforward; however, you will discover that the topic is open to question and challenge and that an alternative way exists. This week’s Key Concept Exercise asks you to consider how learning needs are established in your organisation. The question focuses specifically on job or occupation-level needs, but you are invited to extend the discussion in the Collaboration.

In this week’s Key Concept Exercise, you explore how learning needs are identified.

To prepare for this Key Concept Exercise:

• Review the Required Learning Resources for Week 4.
• Identify and retrieve one peer-reviewed academic journal article and one professional or trade journal article from the University of Liverpool Online Library.
• Reflect on how learning needs are identified in your organisation or an organisation with which you are familiar.

To complete this Key Concept Exercise:

In an approximately 500-word response, address the following issues/questions:

• Critically evaluate methods for identifying learning needs in your organisation. In your analysis, address your own research within the topic.
• In formulating your Key Concept Exercise, consider the following questions:
  • What is the common understanding of learning needs?
  • How could ideas from the literature be used to improve practice in your organisation?
  • Which approach is reflected by your organisation: the comprehensive approach, key task approach, problem-centred approach or competency approach, or none of these?
  • What are the reasons for the approach adopted by your organisation?

When writing your responses, synthesise the theory with real-world experience and use examples of the theories in action in a real organisation about which you have read or one in which you have worked.