IS YOUR TRAINING BENEFICIAL?
August 10, 2016
As you well know, typical media courseware has an exam at the end.
The courseware with meaningful exams has a bank of questions that are randomized but, at the same time, asks at least one question for each of the learning objectives.
And yet, that “final exam” will not be sufficient to measure the results of your training initiative.
In addition to formal testing, you need to follow up that exam with a hands-on test which will give you a clearer picture as to the transfer of learned knowledge into correct work practice.
The following are a couple of ideas you might use to get a more accurate picture of the efficacy of your training initiatives:
On-the-job Follow-up:
The trainee and the appropriate supervisor are given a copy of the performance checklist for each completed lesson. The supervisor assigns the student to perform tasks on the checklist and evaluates that performance. Through discussion, the supervisor can then augment the training activities with site or equipment specific identification and information.
Shop/Laboratory Activity Integration:
Shortly after the completion of the lesson, a shop/lab activity is conducted allowing trainees to practice the activities covered in the course. For example, your trainees finish a lesson on laser alignment and then go into the shop to practice laser alignment. That shop/lab activity can then be followed up with a hands-on performance test administered by the instructor.
As we all know, determining learning mastery is the goal of each of your training initiatives. “On-the-Job” Follow-up” testing and “Shop/Laboratory Activity Integration” testing will give you a better marker on trainee performance than will the “final exam” we find with most e-Learning courseware.
More on Monday – – –
— Bill Walton, co-Founder, ITC Learning
www.itclearning.com/blog/ (Mondays & Wednesdays)