How can you measure the effectiveness of your training program?

1 Define your objectives

Before you start your training program, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and how you will measure it. Your objectives should be SMART: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. For example, if your training program is about teaching English to refugees, your objectives could be: by the end of the program, 80% of the participants will be able to read and write basic sentences, 70% will be able to hold a simple conversation, and 60% will be able to apply for a job or a course in English.

2 Choose your evaluation methods

There are various approaches to evaluate your training program, depending on your objectives, resources, and audience. For instance, pre- and post-tests can be used to measure the participants' knowledge or skills before and after the program. Furthermore, surveys or feedback forms can be employed to rate the participants' satisfaction, engagement, and learning outcomes. Interviews or focus groups enable you to explore the participants' experiences, opinions, and suggestions in more detail. Additionally, observation or performance allows you to watch or measure how the participants behave or perform during or after the program. Checklists, rubrics, or portfolios can be utilized to evaluate their skills, attitudes, or actions.

3 Analyze and report your data

Once you have collected your data, it's important to analyze it and report your findings. To do this, you can use various tools or software, such as spreadsheets, graphs, charts, or tables to organize, visualize, and interpret the data. Additionally, you should write a summary or a report that outlines the main results, insights, and recommendations of your evaluation. This should answer questions such as whether you met your objectives, what the strengths and weaknesses of your training program were, what the benefits and challenges for the participants were, what feedback and suggestions from the participants were, and how you can improve your training program for the future.

4 Apply and share your learning

The final step of measuring the effectiveness of your training program is to apply and share your learning. You should use your evaluation results to make changes or improvements to your training program, such as adding more content, activities, or resources, or modifying the delivery method, format, or duration. You should also share your learning with your fellow volunteers, trainers, or managers, as well as the participants, stakeholders, or donors. You can use different formats or channels to communicate your learning, such as presentations, newsletters, blogs, or social media. By applying and sharing your learning, you can demonstrate your impact, celebrate your achievements, and inspire others to join or support your volunteer work.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?