We've discussed all the steps leading up to evaluating your learning program—and now it's time to actually evaluate learning so you can determine what's working and what needs improvement.
Tell a story with learning data
As mentioned in Step 4 of our learning evaluation model, dashboards will help you monitor the success and progress toward the metrics most appropriate to the organizational goals.
And while dashboards are great for quick, accessible information, you’ll want to dive deeper into the data for a more thorough analysis at the end of the program (or at specific review points).
That means you’ll need reports that provide more in-depth data so you can tell the whole story of what happened with supporting evidence and pinpoint why or why not your training program was successful.
You can then use this data to present the story of success and a worthwhile investment in the way that’s most appropriate for your organization. For instance, your story might include industry benchmarks, return on investment or return on expectation information, or just telling the story of the data on its own.
Be sure to document and shout about your program's successes to reinforce L&D's value and importance in your organization and to make the business case for investment in future programs. You also can use data to explore areas where the program hasn’t been successful and apply those as lessons learned for future programs.
Recommended Reading
Step 6 Objectives
- Determine whether or not program goals were achieved.
- Evaluate the reasons why goals were met or unmet.
- Collate success stories.
- Document lessons learned.
Making It Happen
- Use your reports to tell the whole story from learning to success.
- Celebrate and share evidence of success.
- Explore and learn from any challenges or problematic areas.
Up Next: Learning Evaluation Step 7, Explore
Our next blog post covers Step 7 and explains how to research further into successful elements of the project to uncover more questions and lessons learned.
[Editor's Note: This blog post was originally posted on March 3, 2016, and has been updated for comprehensiveness.]
About the author
As a co-author of xAPI, Andrew has been instrumental in revolutionizing the way we approach data-driven learning design. With his extensive background in instructional design and development, he’s an expert in crafting engaging learning experiences and a master at building robust learning platforms in both corporate and academic environments. Andrew’s journey began with a simple belief: learning should be meaningful, measurable, and, most importantly, enjoyable. This belief has led him to work with some of the industry’s most innovative organizations and thought leaders, helping them unlock the true potential of their learning strategies. Andrew has also shared his insights at conferences and workshops across the globe, empowering others to harness the power of data in their own learning initiatives.
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