Darryl L. Sink and Associates, Inc. (DSA) helps organizations design and develop learning and performance solutions that get results. DSA works cooperatively with organizations to:
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In our last tip on Procedural Task Analysis we suggested using the technique of flowcharting the procedural tasks so as to not miss the decision points one needs to make to accomplish a goal. In this tip we will focus on prerequisite learning to accomplish a goal. The result of this type of task analysis is a learning hierarchy diagram.
The process for making one is called Hierarchical Task Analysis. For teaching topics/tasks that have dependencies involving prerequisite learning, we suggest creating a learning hierarchy diagram. Click here to see an illustration of how a learning hierarchy diagram might look for a whole course or program.
Here are the basic steps for working with content experts (SMEs) to complete a hierarchical task analysis and create a learning hierarchy diagram:
Whenever the analysis of a subtask reaches a skill the learners already possess, it stops. The learners’ entry level is then said to have been reached. The analysis then resumes on another subtask until once more the entry level is reached. This continues until all subtasks and sub-subtasks have been analyzed to the learners’ entry level. At this point, we can consider the entire task analysis complete.
Rule of Thumb: Do not go beyond five levels in task analysis. If you must, chances are your main task is too complex for the learners. Choose one of your subtasks as a main task.
See also our tip Content Analysis: Better and Faster – with Post-Its
For more detail, see Jonassen, D.H., Tessmer, M., & Hannum, W.H. (1999) Task Analysis Methods For Instructional Design.