How to Make Online Training Evaluations

The training evaluation process typically gathers data and reports on courses offered in a curriculum. The results guide decision making about course maintenance. Several evaluation levels comprise a complete evaluation strategy, ranging from learner satisfaction to behavior changes and return on investment. Creating an online training evaluation typically includes designing your questions and delivering them in a survey to training participants.

Things You'll Need

• Survey tool

Instructions

1. Determine the type of evaluation to conduct for each course you offer. For example, conduct a survey for students regarding their reaction to the course presentation. Also conduct a survey for instructors to determine the feedback regarding the course materials and classroom facilities. You can use evaluation data to obtain support from your sponsors and stakeholders in order to fund course maintenance activities. Ideally, any training you deliver should have a positive impact on the business it supports.

2. Determine your rating scale. Typically, a Likert scale can be used: a psychometric scale in questionnaires in which respondents specify their level of agreement, ranging from Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree.

3. Design your statements. For example, a course satisfaction survey should have statements such as: "The course achieved its stated objectives," "The course materials provide an excellent reference," "Exercises allowed me to practice the skills taught in the class" and "I can apply what I learned immediately." Include information about course logistics and instructor ability if appropriate.

4. Create your survey online as part of your corporate learning management system or a separate online survey creation tool, such as Zoomerang. (See References 1) Deploying your survey online eliminates any manual activities.

5. Include the ability to input demographic data including the student's name, course taken and other relevant information that will help you in your analysis of survey results.

6. Add specific information about particular offerings as appropriate. Ask test questions if your intent is to measure student achievement as well. Ensure privacy guidelines are adhered to, which may be legally required in your location by policy or regulation.

7. Ask students if they would recommend the course to others. Allow room for comments. Analyze the comments received to determine if there are any trends you can address in subsequent offerings of your training courses.

References

• Surveys by Zoomerang
• "Make Training Evaluation Work;" Jack J. Phillips, Patricia Pulliam Phillips & Toni Krucky Hodges; 2004