The Importance of Using a Formative Evaluation in L&D modules

Today it is not enough to learn new information to perform a job. Employers expect that the employees will also understand and apply them to workplace situations. Practical training and development programs provide trainees with the knowledge and skills required to achieve high-performance levels. These programs, therefore, need thorough evaluation in order to achieve their desired goal. An evaluation not only acknowledges the learners’ progress but also gauges the impact of the program overall.

Why is evaluation important to learning?

An evaluation is important,

1. To understand achievements or the lack of them: An assessment helps to evaluate the learning during or at the end of an instructional journey by comparing it against some standard or benchmark.
2. In improving performance: It helps the learners to be actively involved in their learning and helps them identify goals to move them forward. It also helps the instructors refine their instruction plans.
3. In improving accountability: Assessments not only keep learners interested in the curriculum but can also provide instructional designers with information on the effectiveness of the course, potential learning gaps, and learning outcomes.
4. In generating knowledge: Evaluation is crucial for improving knowledge, skills, and understanding and is a significant factor in motivating learning.
5. For decision-making: Policy-makers, planners, and financial departments need to be able to judge the merit or worth of an intervention.
6. To demonstrate program impact: The information allows for better communication, which is important for public relations. It demonstrates the progress and success of the program overall.

Types of evaluation

There are two types of evaluation:

1. Summative evaluation
2. Formative evaluation

The idea of evaluating learning through assessing learners’ performance at the end of a learning journey is summative evaluation. Formative evaluation differs from summative evaluation in that formatives are used to understand better how the learning experience is progressing. In contrast, formative evaluation tracks the learner’s progress during a lesson. In this blog, we will discuss formative evaluation in detail.

What is a formative evaluation?

A formative evaluation is a deliberate process used by the facilitators and the learners during instruction to provide specific, actionable, and immediate feedback. It is usually carried out during a project or program and often at the mid-point. A formative evaluation aims to help shape the future of the project or program concerned and thereby improve performance. A formative evaluation is more likely to emphasize managerial accountability and learning. It determines who needs the program, how great the need is, and what can be done to meet the need.

It can involve providing feedback following an assessment, but more importantly, this feedback is delivered during instruction, allowing instructors to identify learners’ misunderstandings and help them correct their errors. Learners must use this feedback provided by the instructor to engage in the appropriate actions required to close the gap between the actual and desired level of performance. Therefore, for successful learning, formative feedback must not be one-sided; instead, it involves both the instructor and the learners.

It is usually undertaken in the development of the program to inform the providers and stakeholders about the trends in results, whether the objectives of the program are likely to be achieved, and to identify the barriers and facilitators of implementation. The results of the formative evaluation then get included in the program, with the necessary adjustments made to improve program implementation. These evaluations are usually less formal than summative evaluations.

Examples of formative assessment:

There are various ways for a formative evaluation. The choice of formative assessment depends on the learning journey. There is no universal method for selecting the appropriate formative evaluation. Some of the prevalent ways of formative evaluation are as follows:

1. Quizzes
2. MCQ
3. Fill-in-the-blank questions
4. Assignments
5. Discussion forums
6. Polls
7. KWL charts
8. Exit slips
9. Self-assessments
10. Practices scenarios/simulations
11. Gamification

But in order to get a proper evaluation, there are a few conditions. The learners and the facilitators must,

1. Gain a deep understanding of the learning objectives
2. Envision proficiency in each standard of the module
3. Pave the way for personalized learning
4. Provide a safe place for giving an opinion, and
5. Use the information to adjust instructions immediately

Advantages of formative evaluation

Formative evaluation has the following advantages:

1. It promotes ongoing reflection and is used to adjust learning and development quickly. It helps to assess the learning problems and gaps, if any.
2. It is a process that can happen every day. Therefore, it gives continuous sources of performance evidence and prompts immediate feedback.
3. Formative evaluation has a direct impact on learning in a significant way. It has the power to transform learning through instruction. It allows the learners to focus on the most critical activities without getting distracted. It helps in developing critical thinking and self-awareness. It motivates the learner to evolve with the learning journey.
4. Providing learners and facilitators with regular feedback on progress toward their goals is the primary function of formative evaluation. It aids in increasing academic achievement. Formative evaluation helps learners close the gap between their current knowledge and their learning objectives.
5. It connects the learning objectives with real-world problems and situations. It draws learners into the instructional activities and feeds their natural curiosity about the program.
6. It allows the instructor to examine their instructional practices in order to determine which are producing the desired results. This type of evaluation, as a result, provides a personalized experience to its learners.
7. It promotes the skill of self-learning in the learners. After a few rounds of formative evaluations, learners can set their own goals and objectives. They will also develop the practical skills and capabilities required to solve real-world problems.

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Conclusion

The need for formative evaluation in L&D modules increases with each passing day. It works as both the motivational and achievement needs of the learners. This type of evaluation helps learners assess their work and determine whether they are on track to reach the objectives. It enables them to plan what they need to do to progress. It even provides a break from the monotonous learning journey. With the advancement in learning management technology, formative evaluations are becoming more impactful. Modern, sophisticated LMSs make use of formative evaluation to choose the ideal learning course for each learner based on their strengths and shortcomings.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the 2 types of evaluation?

There are two types of evaluation: formative evaluation and summative evaluation.

Is formative an evaluation?

A formative evaluation is a deliberate process used by the facilitators and the learners during instruction to provide specific, actionable, and immediate feedback.

What is the importance of formative evaluation?

Formative evaluation promotes ongoing reflection and adjusts learning and development. It helps to assess the learning problems and gaps, if any.

How many types of formative evaluation are there?

Some formative evaluations are quizzes, exit slips, KWL charts, assignments, etc.