Evaluating the success of employee training is not just a task but an opportunity for organizations to enhance their workforce’s effectiveness and productivity. With the average cost of employee training soaring from $17.7 million in 2019 to $22 million in 2020, it has become imperative for organizations to invest wisely in their training programs. Pre- and post-training assessments are the perfect tools to measure these programs’ effectiveness and identify improvement areas.

However, training evaluation is not just a mundane exercise — it’s an essential ingredient for organizational success. Effective training assessments help organizations measure the efficacy of their training programs, assess learner retention and engagement and ensure that employees are equipped with the skills to achieve business goals.

The good news is that training assessments can be conducted before and after training to ensure success. Pre-training assessments measure skills gaps and areas needing improvement. This information can help you design and deliver the right training to learners. Post-training assessments measure training effectiveness in terms of meeting the initial needs identified in the pre-training assessment.

By utilizing the two types of training assessment, organizations can evaluate the success of their training programs and achieve their objectives by delivering training that addresses key skills gaps and needs.

Pre-training Assessments

This evaluation process is conducted before a learning program or training session to determine learners’ current knowledge, skills and abilities. The pre-training assessment identifies learners’ knowledge and skills gaps, which can help you design an effective training program. Here are some examples of pre-training assessments.

1. Surveys and questionnaires.
2. Knowledge tests.
3. Communication skills assessments.
4. Performance evaluations.
5. Video evaluations for salespeople.

Post-training Assessments

This evaluation process is conducted after a training program or course to determine training effectiveness and how practical the training session was to learners. Questions asked can be based on the topics covered during the training program. Post-training assessments can provide a series of valuable ideas about the training ranging from the perspective of the learners, which is essential in knowing what worked and what didn’t.

The post-training assessment aims to ensure participants have acquired the necessary skills, knowledge and attitudes to perform their job roles successfully. These evaluations can be delivered through quizzes and surveys. Now let’s explore some of the best steps to evaluate pre and post-training assessment.

Tips for Conducting Pre- and Post-training Assessments

It is essential to measure the effectiveness of training and to identify areas for improvement. Here are some tips for conducting effective pre- and post-training assessments:

1. Determine the objectives: Before delivering training, it’s crucial to determine the training program’s goals. These objectives should be measurable and specific, and they should be used to guide the assessment process.
2. Use a variety of assessment methods: Use a variety of assessment methods, such as quizzes, surveys and observations, to gather data on the effectiveness of the training program.
3. Develop a baseline: Collect data before the training program starts to develop a baseline. This will help you measure the participants’ progress and the training program’s effectiveness.
4. Ask for feedback: Ask participants to provide feedback on the training program, including what they liked and didn’t like and how it could be improved.
5. Use standardized assessments: Use standardized assessments to measure the participants’ progress. This will help you to compare the results of different training programs and identify areas for improvement.
6. Monitor progress: Monitor the participants’ progress throughout the training program to identify areas where additional support may be needed.
7. Assess learning outcomes: Use assessments to measure the learning outcomes of the training program. This could include quizzes, tests or other checks to evaluate participants’ knowledge and skills.
8. Evaluate behavior change and recognize good performance: Use post-training assessments and observations to measure behavior change. Ensure to recognize and reward outstanding performance to motivate learners to excel.
9. Evaluate the impact: Evaluate the impact of the training program by assessing how it has affected the organization, such as improved productivity, reduced costs or increased customer satisfaction.
10. Measure return on investment: Measure the training program’s return on investment (ROI) by comparing its costs and benefits.
11. Constructive feedback: Use feedback from learners and leadership to identify improvement areas and adjust the training program.

Conclusion

Now that you know how to create pre- and post-training assessments in the best possible way, it all comes down to the evaluation. Let’s look at different methods of evaluating a learner’s success. Evaluating training success with pre- and post-training assessments is a crucial step in measuring the effectiveness of a training program.

By identifying learning objectives, conducting pre- and post-training assessments, analyzing the results and making improvements, you can ensure that your training program is successful and meets the needs of your learners.