What is a Learner Analysis?

Understanding Your Audience

Students build understanding by linking new knowledge with previously acquired concepts, creating new meanings in the process (National Research Council, 2000). By assessing students’ background knowledge you can use the results to address misconceptions, scaffold specific learning, differentiate instruction and inform your teaching practice for your online course.

Know your Class Infographic

The University of Saskatchewan’s Know Your Class Infographic provides instructors with a visual representation of the demographic composition of students in their class sections. This infographic offers insights into factors such as student diversity, academic backgrounds, and other relevant demographics.

To access Know Your Class, go to your Canvas course under Settings –> Navigation. There should be a link at the bottom of the page where you can drag the option Know Your Class onto your course menu. You can access the infographics the month prior to the term beginning and will only display if you have more than 10 students enrolled. It is recommended to use the Firefox browser if you are experiencing any issues.

Pre- Assessments

Pre-Course Survey

A pre-course survey is a valuable tool used by instructors to understand the needs and goals of participants before the start of a course. By evaluating existing knowledge and skills, instructors can tailor the course content to better meet the needs of learners. This assessment also establishes a baseline for tracking progress throughout the course and can motivate learners by giving them a sense of ownership over their learning journey and setting clear goals for improvement.

Instructors can create a pre-course survey in Canvas Quizzes, Microsoft Form or SurveyMonkey.