When Training Needs Improvement
If, after evaluating the training program, its determined that training has not caused students to gain adequate knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs), it will be necessary for the training program manager to gather a team to improve the training.
Determine the Causes
To determine what should be done to solve a training problem, the evaluator should conduct surveys and focus groups asking trainers and employees questions about the training they have experienced, and how it can be improved.
Surveys: Surveys provide direct feedback from participants on the training program's effectiveness, highlighting areas that may not be adequately addressing safety concerns or that could be misunderstood by participants.
Focus Groups: Conducting focus groups is a valuable approach for identifying weaknesses in a safety training program. Focus groups involve gathering a small, diverse group of participants to discuss and provide feedback on the training program, facilitated by a moderator.
Important Questions to Ask
Asking questions to identify weaknesses in a safety training program is crucial for several reasons, paramount among them being the enhancement of workplace safety and the prevention of accidents. Below are some important questions to ask.
Survey Questions
- Were parts of the content already known and, therefore, unnecessary?
- What material was confusing or distracting?
- Was anything missing from the program?
- What did the employees learn, and what did they fail to learn?
- If a job analysis was conducted, was it accurate?
- Was any critical feature of the job overlooked?
- Were the important gaps in knowledge and skill included?
- Was material already known by the employees intentionally omitted?
- Were the instructional objectives presented clearly and concretely?
- Did the objectives state the level of acceptable performance that was expected of employees?
- Did the learning activity simulate the actual job?
- Was the learning activity appropriate for the kinds of knowledge and skills required on the job?
- When the training was presented, was the organization of the material and its meaning made clear?
- Were the employees motivated to learn?
- Were the employees allowed to participate actively in the training process?
- Was the employer's evaluation of the program thorough?
The feedback you receive might surprise you, but remember, 'the facts are friendly.' No matter the results, they will help make the training program better.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
8-2. What should be done if, after the evaluation, its clear that the training did not give employees adequate knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs)?
You forgot to answer the question!