Principle 5 – Evaluate

To determine the value or impact of learning that occurred.

• In an unobtrusive manner determine the learning that has occurred
• Determine additional information learners want to know
• Obtain feedback about the training methods
• Maintain a record keeping system to document outcomes and complete reporting

Evaluation provides feedback about the training’s impact on individual participants, the trainer and stakeholders.  Evaluation of training is useful for justification and accountability.  The evaluation of a specific training needs to be built upon the defined educational objectives that most frequently focus upon the teaching of information that is exhibited in behavior change.  The outcome of training is to assist personal care home administrators to perform their jobs in a manner that meets state regulations.  The ultimate evaluation outcome would be the documentation of a higher level of job performance by personal care home administrators.

Methods used to obtain evaluation results can be varied.  Most typically they are written surveys that measure the knowledge gained about the training topic. 

Maintaining a record system that documents individual and group outcomes is necessary to accurately report training outcomes.  Record keeping is necessary to maintain an ongoing factual register of the results of those who have been trained and their learning outcomes.

Situation Training Topic: Fire Safety

Review the following two training scenarios and pay close attention to the contrast of teaching styles and format. Notice the difference between each in terms of the level of evaluation.

Situation 1
The trainer states, “Since you didn’t ask any questions, I am sure you know what to do when a fire occurs in the home.  Good luck!”

Situation 2
The trainer explains that it is important to obtain feedback from the group about what they have learned. She asks questions concerning the use of a fire extinguisher to get the group to reflect upon and share what they had learned. The trainer distributes a session evaluation from and reviews the instructions. She asks that each participant complete the evaluation and then return it to her.  She thanks the participants for their input in a written format which assists with maintaining an accurate record of the training's outcome.

Situation Summary:  In the first vignette, the presenter assumes the session participants have retained the information presented, and are ready to leave with full knowledge of the subject. In the second vignette, the instructor is not assuming that her message got across or that true learning has occurred. She uses a formal evaluation tool. Situation 2 shows a trainer engaged in the evaluation process. Evaluation provides feedback for the participant, trainer and stakeholders. It provides the data that justifies the training programs’ capability to teach information that will increase the quality of practice in personal care homes.

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