Task Analysis

Overview:
Task analysis is the process of breaking a complex skill into smaller, more manageable steps to teach the skill. The steps can look different or be in a different order depending on the student.

Why use task analysis?
• Effective way to plan the teaching of complex skills that require several steps
• Phases taught in smaller sections to master a larger task
• The learner becomes increasingly more independent

Who benefits from a task analysis?
• All ages
• Variety of settings
• Home
• School
• Community
• Work

Variety of behaviors including:
• Self help skills (brushing teeth)
• Life skills (shopping at the grocery store)
• Academic skills (writing a research paper)

How does it work?
• Identify the target skill
• Determine prerequisite skills needed for the task
• Break the complex skill into smaller parts (with colleague or self)
• Present the steps of the task analysis by using words, pictures, video modeling, etc.
• Choose a procedure to teach the chain of behaviors (coming soon)

Example of a Task Analysis: Brushing teeth
• Get materials (toothbrush, toothpaste, cup, etc)
• Take lid off of toothpaste
• Get toothbrush
• Squeeze toothpaste onto toothbrush
• Replace toothpaste lid
• Turn on water
• Wet toothbrush
• Brush right outer surfaces of teeth
• Brush right chewing surfaces of teeth
• Brush right inner surfaces of teeth
• Brush front outer surface of top and bottom teeth
• Brush front inner surface of top and bottom teeth
• Brush left outer surfaces of teeth
• Brush left chewing surfaces of teeth
• Brush left inner surfaces of teeth
• Scrub tongue with toothbrush
• Rinse toothbrush
• Get cup
• Fill with water
• Rinse mouth
• Turn off water
• Wipe mouth and hands
• Put materials away