Learner Analysis

Jalen Holston| jalenh4@vt.edu

Learner Analysis

1. General Characteristics of Target Population

High school senior athletes, 17-18 years old. Individuals in this target population are very athletic,
confident, have a great desire, self-motivated, and a committed to a goal. The recruits are seniors in high
school who have received an athletic scholarship that put them in position to play college football in the
future. They are all from various high schools around the United States, but are all in the same grade
levels. They all share the mindset of their love for the game of football as they have competed to earn
the right to move from high school to college football. They all have played the sport of football. They all
have a background or knowledge about the sport and some of the things that come with it.

2. Entry Level Skill

The learner’s entry skill level is advanced and they have some skill and knowledge about the how a
team’s culture is set and procedures they go through. They learned this from there high school
programs. With learners being from all over the country from different high schools, some will have
more knowledge than others. The learners don’t have enough to know what it takes to be a football
player on a college football team. All the learners have a great ability to visually learn, communicate,
and take coaching in person or from a distance.

3. Learners Prior Knowledge

With the learners (recruits) being all from different places, prior knowledge between them can vary
or differ from each other. These recruits can come from different cities where they teach things in their
own unique way or be involved with other sports where the culture is different from football. Whether
those examples be the case or another one, all the recruits have a desire to be a player within a college
football program. The recruits know a fair amount of knowledge about how a high school football
program is run and what that culture would look like. Even though they have knowledge of how a high
school program is run and its culture, individuals have different levels of knowledge on the subject.

4. Learners Attitudes

Learners will have a great attitude and be very excited to learn the new knowledge presented. They
will be excited to learn as this information makes a connection to the sport that they love to compete in.
This information applies to their athletic lives as they are looking at Virginia Tech as a school of choice or
Virginia Tech’s football staff is recruiting them to play for the program. They also have a good attitude
towards the delivery system as they relate to football outside of the field through highlight tapes to get
a glimpse of the game. They get excited to see highlight tapes and seeing new team uniforms.
5. Learner Academic Motivation

The learners will have a good academic motivation towards the information. The content that they
will be viewing is helpful and beneficial to their transitions from high school to college football. The
information will represent what it takes to be a Virginia Tech hokie.

6. Describes Learners’ Educational and Ability Levels

Learners will have a knowledge about high school football programs and their cultures, but have
little knowledge about those areas on the college level. Some may have knowledge about the college
level, but they will also have different levels of understanding and knowledge.

7. Describe Learner’s General Learning Preferences

The learners have a visual learning preference. They want to be able to not only see text, but include
visuals so they can respond to them and learn. This allows learners to have interest in information being
taught as it will could catch their attention better.

8. Attitude Towards Training Organization

The learners have a good attitude towards the training organization ass they will be able to access
what it looks like to become a hokie.

9. Describe Any Important Group Characteristics

My learners are mostly male athletes as the sport of football is male dominate. Every learner in the
group is a high school senior about to make the transition of becoming a college athlete.

10. Describe How the Information Was Obtained

The learner analysis was developed from meetings with professionals in the field of college football
(coaches and recruiting department). The coaches are the staff that travels around the country to recruit
these high school prospects. The recruiting department also have experience as they communicate with
these high-school athletes often as they coordinate visits and distribute social media post that appeal to
the recruits. All of the individuals I’ve met with have over 7+ years of experience in their field.

Context Analysis

Performance Context

Once the learners are able to obtain the new information and accomplish the goal they will be
able to decide if Virginia Tech is the school for them. The information will benefit them tremendously
and they will see that this has been a great additional help with them to make their college decisions.
Learners will be able to receive managerial support from their families and the coaching staff that will
provide encouragement and guidance on if they fit into the program. Their new skill will not depend on
certain equipment, facilities, or other resources. When using this new skill learners will be working
independently as they are the people being offered a scholarship. The skill is relevant to the workplace,
because they will need to know how to find where they fit best in making their college decision. These
same principles can be used when learners are looking for jobs or making important decisions. There are
no constraints to the use of the new skills as this applies to learners finding out if a place aligns with
their personal values and ideas. I was able to get this information about the performance context from
my own personal experiences, teammates, and the coaching staff at Virginia Tech.

Learning Context

Context Analysis

There will be two sites for the instruction. The online site where learners will be able to view the
instruction and their own in-home setting where the learners will be able to participate in the
instruction. The in-home site that the learner puts themselves in should include all the tools and
equipment needed. The tools and equipment that will be necessary to deliver and receive this
instruction is a computer with access to the internet and Microsoft PowerPoint. The sites are convenient
to the learners as there is adequate space and equipment for the learners. The learning environment
will present some things similar to the work environment. It would be hard to give a realistic feel of the
environment as the lesson is online and the work environment would be outside. The lesson will put the
learner in the perspective of the hokie football players and they will get to have a feeling of what it is to
be a hokie. I was able to get this information from the previous knowledge I have learned in the ITMA
program and my own personal experiences.