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Running Head: NEEDS ASSESSMENT WIKI INTEGRATION

Needs Assessment: Wiki Integration/Collaboration

Keith C. Quarles
EDU655: Trends & Issues Inst. Design & Tech. Online Learning (MRX1446A)
Professor Kris Jamsa
11-24-14

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Running Head: NEEDS ASSESSMENT WIKI INTEGRATION

Needs Assessment
The Wiki collaboration created in this assignment will actually be a proposal collaborated
upon by students and instructor in order to meet a need for innovative instructional design. The
proposal is to be submitted to decision makers at Ashford Unversity in order to get approval for
the integration of Wiki as an instructional/educational software. Thus, the knowledge from
assignment that we extended/enhanced through the Wiki postings/edits can be expressed in terms
of a real life experience-the proposal submitted to the university. Connect activities fill the
gaps between lessons learned and the remainder of our lives endeavors. They aid learners in
preparing for future challenges at work and in ones personal life (William Horton Consulting,
2013). The creation of the Wiki proposal is an experiment based on the premise that knowledge
is transferable, retrievable, and can be holistically directed towards a specific topic through
group cooperation. In order for the experiment to benefit the learners. The instructor must take
inventory of the range of knowledge on the subject within the learning environment by asking
critical questions. Analyzing the learning environment needs requires a needs assessment study
(Reiser and Dempsey, 2012). Thus, this paper includes a needs assessment of the proposed
intervention (Wiki Technology) and the instructions for the lesson which integrates the
knowledge and use of Wiki as an instructional tool.
Existing and Extended Knowledge Intuitive
We know that it is possible to coordinate efforts to discuss, define and refine a topic to
some measurable conclusion through Wiki collaboration. We want to know if our Wiki
collaboration can produce a plausible plan which will gain the approval of stakeholders/ leaders.
The proposal is an example of what can be accomplished through Wiki collaborations and a

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Running Head: NEEDS ASSESSMENT WIKI INTEGRATION
proposal per se. Students can benefit from the flexibility/utility of the Wiki software in addition
to the unifying effect of the online collaboration on the student body even though student's
communicate in delayed time. Student/teacher must cooperate, communicate and negotiate in
order to achieve outcomes as students involvement/creativity increases. Through the
creation of the Wiki we are taking what we learned from research and
applying it to a realistic online collaboration.
Online Learning Activity Purpose and Methodology
We are trying to measure to what extent Wiki can be used on a large scale at a major
university. We are actually going to determine the significance of using online collaboration to
produce outcomes that incorporate applied learning through teaching sequences and learning
activities. Thus, students can benefit from going through the phases of turning piece meal data
into a knowledge product through technological collaboration.
The information will be collected/edited/reported through the new Wiki site at
http://wiki-integrationcollaborationkcqmba.wikia.com/wiki/WIKI
%20INTEGRATION/COLLABORATIONKCQMBA%20Wiki?wiki-welcome=1-welcome=1.
The editing of the posts by students/instructor will follow guidelines outlined in the instructions
for the assignment that will be disclose by screen cast to students. The actual submission of the
proposal to university administration will be in the form of an email with the Wiki link with a
face-to-face follow up with school officials after confirmation by email from administration.
Stakeholder Interests and Input
All interested groups which includes students/instructor will be able to provide input into
the composition of the needs assessment which actually serves as the rationale for pursuing/
recommending Wiki as an instructional tool. Students are required to perform and submit a need

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Running Head: NEEDS ASSESSMENT WIKI INTEGRATION
assessment which will be evaluated and finalized by instructor based on the merit/substance of
each groups submission. Students will be allowed to review final needs assessment to be
submitted to administration before it is submitted. The instructor will consider students/groups
suggestions and make the final decision on the content of the needs assessment.
Assignment 1 Instructions: Wiki Postings
Each 6 member group of our 30 student class write a proposal to the decision-maker at
your school/work recommending Wiki as an instructional/training software tool. Include the
following in your proposal:
-Needs Assessment
-Steps to creating Wiki
-Provide 2 You Tube videos that explain/discuss the benefit of online collaboration through Wiki
-Explain how Wiki will add value to current learning or work experiences
-Provide 2 examples of Wiki from external sources-internet
Wiki Posting Instructions
Go to new wiki site at http://wiki-integrationcollaborationkcqmba.wikia.com/wiki/WIKI
%20INTEGRATION/COLLABORATIONKCQMBA%20Wiki?wiki-welcome=1-welcome=1
and perform the following steps per group:
1. Perform/Post Needs Assessment
2. Post steps to creating wiki ( 200 character max)
3. Post 2 assigned research videos to video section of Wiki
4. Summarize in one wiki post/edit the benefits of online collaboration and how wiki will add
value to current learning/work experience in 100 words or less..
5. Post links to wiki external source examples as an edit in Last Activity section of Wiki

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Running Head: NEEDS ASSESSMENT WIKI INTEGRATION
7. Post links to 2 example of Wiki from external source.
8. Submit proposals to instructor for review/revisions on Wiki site.
9. Review assignment Grades and Recommendations from instructor on improving proposals on
Wiki site.
Project Due Dates
Project Phase
Wiki Steps and Video Postings
Online Collaboration and Added Value Posting
Links to External Examples and Previous Wiki
Project
Submit Needs Assessment and Proposals
Instructor Guidance and Grading/Wiki
Completion

Due Date*
11-24-14
11-28-14
12-1-14
12-8-14
12-22-14

* Due dates are subject to change with prior notice from instructor.
Please include student ID and photo (optional) with initial post.
The needs assessment evaluation should be based on the following six questions:
What do you know?

What do you want to know?

What are you trying to measure, determine, or define?

How will you collect and record information.

How will you report the information you collect?

Are all interested groups included in planning and conducting the needs assessment?

A copy of the instruction for this assignment is also available by screen cast at which will be
posted to the Wiki site as of 11-23-14.
Date for submission of proposal to administration has yet to be determined as of 11-22-14;
check Wiki site for updates.

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Running Head: NEEDS ASSESSMENT WIKI INTEGRATION
References
Reiser, R. & Dempsey, J. (2012). Trends and issues in instructional design and technology (3rd
ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson
William Horton Consulting (2013). Connect type activities. Retrieved from http://www.horton.
com/portfolioconnect.htm