Overview
To identify possible struggles that college students face when cooking for themselves in shared apartments or college dorms, we’ve conducted a Learner Analysis using the Fulgencio, J. & Asino, T. I. (2021) approach. By conducting the analysis, we aim to identify our target learner’s characteristics, any knowledge gaps they might have around cooking, and any preferences or motivations they have that would encourage them to cook more.
Current Attitudes Towards Cooking
Interestingly, our survey revealed that 44% of college students feel confident in their cooking abilities. Moreover, a significant portion of these students (72%) turn to social media, while 55% rely on YouTube videos as a primary resource for learning new recipes and techniques.
What Barriers are Preventing Them from Cooking for Themselves?
Our survey highlighted that the primary challenge college students face when it comes to cooking is the lack of time, reported by 72% of respondents. The second most common barrier is a reluctance to plan recipes to cook, with 33% of students citing this as an obstacle. Additionally, due to living in shared or compact apartments, many students have limited access to kitchen appliances. A striking 94% reported that they rely solely on basic devices—such as microwaves, stoves, and ovens—without investing in any additional appliances like air fryers or toasters.
Motivation and Preferences on Learning to Cook
Our survey revealed that the primary motivation for college students to cook is the desire to eat healthier, with 83% of respondents indicating this as their main incentive. Additionally, 55% highlighted the importance of controlling portion sizes and ingredients as well as saving money on food.
As for time, the majority (33%) of the respondents said they prefer only spending 20-30 minutes cooking their meal, with a close 27% willing to spend 30 minutes to an hour cooking.
When it comes to helpful resources, 61% expressed interest in having a step-by-step meal prepping guide, while 44% noted that they would appreciate recipes that are budget-friendly, require minimal equipment, and can be prepared quickly.
Who Is Our Target Audience?
Initially, we aimed to create a solution for college students living in shared apartments or dorms, assuming their main challenges were limited kitchen space and appliances. However, our analysis has shifted our focus to busy college students who want to eat healthier and save money but face significant time constraints. While many do live in smaller spaces with basic kitchen tools, these factors are secondary to their pressing need for time-efficient, practical cooking solutions.
Learner Personas
Based on our findings, we developed two distinct personas that highlight the various challenges college students face.
Reference
Fulgencio, J., & Asino, T. I. (2021). Conducting a Learner Analysis.
Design for Learning: Principles, Processes, and Praxis.
https://edtechbooks.org/id/learner_analysis