Many subject matter experts are highly competent when performing their occupational roles but are not necessarily effective teachers. While many aspects of teaching and learning occur naturally it is possible to systematically enhance those characteristics that assure teacher effectiveness.

Current theory suggests that it takes roughly 10,000 (roughly 5 years) hours of practice to become expert in any field. Perhaps not coincidentally this corresponds to the typical length of an trades or technical apprenticeship program.

Assessing the effectiveness of any training effort can be systematically organized around queries at four levels:[1]
  • Reaction to the training,
  • Measurable learning,
  • Observed Behavior change,
  • Performance results and return on investment

Reaction
  • measured with a "Happy Sheet "
  • simple report of the participants satisfaction with the training event
Measurable Learning
  • pre and post test for specific cognitive, affective or psycho-motor gains.

  1. ^ Kirkpatrick, Donald, 1994, Evaluating Training Programs, Berrett-Koehler Publishers http://www.businessballs.com/kirkpatricklearningevaluationmodel.htm