23+ Sample Training Evaluation Form

What Is a Training Evaluation Form?

A training evaluation form is an official document or survey questionnaire that assesses how comprehensive and effective a training session is, according to the evaluator’s observations. And the form aims to evaluate the overall training program based on training quality, participants’ feedback, time and productivity, etc. Thanks to these training evaluation forms, not only the participants but also the ones who conducted the training will be aware of important training aspects they might have failed to notice.

Lorman reported that 74% of employees are eager to master new skills and be trained. Yet, 59% of workers agreed that they never had any training in the workplace.

Why Are Training Evaluation Forms Necessary?

While it is standard that training itself is important to develop participants and be more productive with their jobs, why should there be an evaluation towards training in the first place? In this section, get to know the important reasons as to why a training evaluation form is needed.

Monitoring Purposes

You can certainly rely on the training evaluation form in terms of monitoring how training sessions take place from start to finish. Maybe the company keeps giving training and development programs yet the evaluator notices that the program is pointless and not helping the participants in any way at all. Evaluators should visit and check the training from time to time for assessment. Hence, training evaluations are a substitute for training survey forms.

Capture the Pros and Cons

Training evaluation forms are used to determine how training takes place from a third-party perspective. That means the results covered in the form will not only focus on the positive elements of a training program but also its negative sides. This approach is how you prevent biased opinions into a training needs analysis report. Also, the results, whether good or bad, will keep your company in the loop about the actual training rather than basing on assumptions for awareness only.

Smart Recommendations

After figuring out the pros, cons, and other factors for analysis about training sessions, the forms also serve as a basis in formulating training development plans. Awareness is not enough because there has to be a corrective action plan after analyzing and evaluating training results. Therefore, organizations can finally come up with smart ideas and recommendations to improve training programs next time. And aiming for continuous development is just what any business needs.

Feedback Acknowledgment

A training evaluation form does not only provide observations from the evaluator. It also seeks feedback from the training organizers and the training participants themselves. Acknowledging feedback is extremely important as you can weigh out the difference between what training organizers and participants say about the training. Also, you can get fresh ideas from the participants whether they were satisfied or dissatisfied with the training given.

Training Flexibility

Do not assume that training evaluation forms are limited to workplace training purposes only. The form is flexible for all types of training sessions. You can use this form for student training, workshop training, theater training, medical training, individual training plan, and other forms of training. However, you cannot use the same criteria for all types of training because it has to be personalized according to the training purpose.

What Are the Elements of a Training Evaluation Form?

Although the purpose, content, format, layout, and design of a training evaluation form differ from one organization to another, it is likely that the form contains standard elements. It is expected that training evaluation forms contain the following components:

Title: The title is self-explanatory; write the words “Training Evaluation Form” as the title. Also, you can be more specific by mentioning that it is a student, work, or individual training evaluation. Alternatively, incorporate the name of your organization in the title as a complete introductory statement of what the form is and who it belongs to.Training Date: Do not forget to write the complete training schedule. For the training date, you can write what time, day, month, and year the training happened. This label is important because training can happen any day. And not seeing the date on the form would make it confusing as to which training session the document recorded.Training Venue: Training may not happen in one place forever. Training might happen in the office, at a camp ground, or at a convention. So be specific with the training’s location by writing the complete address in the training venue section of your training evaluation form. If training happens in more than one location, then don’t forget to list down the rest of these addresses for documentation.Trainer and Participant Details: Identify the names of the trainer/s and the participants. Besides the names, you can indicate each party’s address and contact list. The trainer and participant details are needed for identification purposes and to confirm who is basically involved in the training.Questionnaire: The batch of questions shall fall under the questionnaire section. Questions may be open-ended, close-ended, or both. And what matters the most is that the questions are objective, meaning they are explicitly focusing on the training’s purpose. Also, limit options to three to five answers only for multiple-choice questions. You may base on audit questionnaire samples for ideas and tips.Evaluation Scale: The evaluation scale marks the rating system in your training evaluation form. You may use the Likert scale as a start. Just like surveying, there should be an appropriate rating for item or question whether you assign numbers from one to five, with one as the lowest rating and five as the highest rating. And the results from these measurements will be analyzed and used to create corrective action plans.Suggestion Box: The suggestion box is where participants can write their reactions from the training and recommendations for future training sessions. There is no wrong answer here because people have different feedback and observations. And it is important for evaluators to have a say in the suggestion box as well for the benefit of the training.Notes: Additional information can fall under the blank notes segment of your form. Anything can be written here such as additional comments, training budget calculations, and more.

How to Make an Excellent Training Evaluation Form

Now that you have been officially trained regarding the training evaluation form’s meaning, importance, and necessary elements, you are absolutely ready to create your own training evaluation form. And to make sure that you manage the process excellently, be sure to follow these essential steps:

  • Step 1: Pick a Sample Training Evaluation Form Template

    There are 22+ training evaluation form sample templates in this article. Be sure to choose and download your preferred template so you never have to go through the long process of making one from scratch. You may go for the training evaluation form for employees, online training evaluation form, post-training evaluation form, medical training, and other printable examples. Every downloadable training evaluation form is ready to edit as well so take advantage of personalizing the template from top to bottom.

  • Step 2: Set Goals According to Training Purpose

    Now that you have picked an editable template, proceed to set the training evaluation form’s goals that meet the training purpose and objectives. A clear statement of purpose will help in reassuring what the whole training is for. This is also the part where you provide an insightful introduction about the form’s intentions and why there is a need to evaluate them in the first place. That way, whoever checks the document will understand the objectives behind establishing it.

  • Step 3: Determine the Appropriate Training Evaluation Questions

    Of course, you can’t forget the main meat—the training evaluation form questions. If you have made a survey or interview questionnaire often, this step will be easy. Just list down the appropriate questions to evaluate training. A tip is to ensure the questions are connected to the training objectives. Questions could be related to how organized the training is, how effective the service is, if there is a new improvement at all, etc. Also, decide if you provide multiple-choice answers or be open to other possible answers. And the questions should help in gathering reliable results as they will be used for analysis later on.

  • Step 4: Set the Appropriate Evaluation Criteria

    Besides the basic questions, training evaluation forms also have standardized criteria. The common approach is to use the Likert scale where evaluators can either strongly agree, agree, neutral, disagree, or strongly disagree with each question or item in the form. As much as possible, the criteria being set must be appropriate to the questions. For example, you can’t use the Likert scale if the question requires feedback. Criteria analysis should be implemented before deciding on what to apply for your training evaluation form.

  • Step 5: Complete the Standard Elements

    Recall the essential elements of a basic training evaluation form, from the title down to the notes, as previously discussed. You may have missed an element that makes your training evaluation form incomplete. Also, there is room to add more elements that you think are relevant to the training objectives and the form itself. Also, take this opportunity to evaluate the evaluation form because there might be some littered errors that can only be a hindrance during the actual training evaluation or assessment soon.

  • Step 6: Ensure an Easy-to-Follow Structure

    Lastly, aim to perfect your training evaluation form in general. The best advice is to observe an easy-to-follow structure. With simple words and instructions, evaluators and anyone who checks the document won’t have a hard time deciphering its data. Training evaluation forms are meant to be simple, short, yet highly organized. A one-page fact sheet is enough. And once you are confident with the outcome of your work, submit it and let evaluators use it for upcoming training sessions.

FAQs

What are the different training evaluation tools?

Training evaluation tools are used to gather training program data. And these tools are either in the form of a questionnaire, interview, focus group, or general observation.

What are the main types of evaluation?

Evaluation is known to have four main types. These are the process, impact, outcome, and summative evaluation.

How do you conduct a training evaluation?

A training evaluation can be established in a matter of four steps: (1) assess each training session on a step-by-step basis, (2) formulate standard key performance indicators (KPIs) per program, (3) choose the right training evaluation type per training, and (4) gather feedback from participants.

You can never go wrong with training evaluations using a pivotal important business document known as the training evaluation form. It covers not only the training process flaws but also highlights the advantages and suggestions to implement training improvement. So the next time your organization decides to push through any training program, use a sample training evaluation form template to assess its quality and effectiveness ahead. Download now!