KnowledgePool offers Kirkpatrick level three evaluation as standard service offering
KnowledgePool, the learning services company, is launching a new service enhancement at HRD 2006 exhibition (stand 1078). The company is introducing Kirkpatrick level three evaluation - which measures behavioural change resulting from learning - as standard for any learning it provides to its managed service clients.
KnowledgePool has devised a questionnaire to assess behavioural changes which lead to performance improvement. The questionnaire is issued automatically a set time after the learning is completed; it is also generic, so it can be applied to any form of learning intervention. LiveBooker, KnowledgePool's learning management system, compiles the questionnaire responses and provides management reports on the results.
"All organisations want to understand how learning contributes to the performance of individuals and to the business as a whole," said Rod Edwards, Chief Executive of KnowledgePool. "However many fail to evaluate learning effectively because it is too time-consuming. With this new service enhancement, we can now provide clients with hard evidence of how the learning has impacted upon performance."
The ROI Institute indicates that organisations should aim to evaluate 30 per cent of their learning programmes at level three. With KnowledgePool's new service, learning & development teams can now evaluate all of their programmes at this level.
To support the introduction of level three evaluations, KnowledgePool has conducted a benchmarking study, to build a body of data against which its clients can assess the performance improvement attributable to their learning.
As Kevin Lovell, KnowledgePool's Learning Strategy Director, explained: "For years we have evaluated training using level one 'happy sheets', and from experience we know what represents a good score at this level. In the absence of historical level three scores, our study allows the participating organisations to benchmark their performance improvement results against one another."
This benchmarking process will continue through Spring 2006.
The Kirkpatrick model for measuring training effectiveness was developed by US training expert Donald Kirkpatrick. Level one measures learners reaction to training; level two assesses how much learning was achieved. Level three involves assessing the behaviour of learners in the workplace, after training. Level four addresses the results (business benefit) derived from training.
KnowledgePool's LiveBooker is a web-based suite of software and support services which enables organisations with large numbers of staff, and diverse training needs, to automate the process of selecting and administering training and learning activities.