Task analysis is when a task is broken down into the smallest possible actions required. To begin task analysis, think from the student perspective: “What are all of the steps that students must do to complete the task?” Break each step until complex steps are broken down into single parts.
For example, see how this teacher task analyzes a spelling practice task.
Analyzing tasks enables teachers and students to identify the specific parts of a task that need to be taught or practiced. It can also help identify when a missing prerequisite skill is causing problems for learners in more complex tasks. Help resources may support students in accomplishing specific parts of a task.
For learners, task analysis increases independence because it enables them see their progress as each part of a large task is mastered. Task analysis may also help learners to self monitor actions, complete complex academic tasks, and monitor their thinking process.
For teachers, task analysis identifies the necessary prerequisite skills for completing a larger task and often helps to find the exact place in a thinking process where student misunderstanding may occur. The practice of task analysis can be used to effectively plan for the teaching of academics, life skills, and vocational tasks. It is applicable to both curriculum tasks as well as thinking processes.
Once a task is analyzed into component parts, then teachers determine the most effective method for teaching the task.