The Role of Occupational Training and Evaluation in the Learning Organization.

Training plays a major role in learning organizations. Training is an important tool for developing a productive workforce and fine-tuning operations, a major approach to helping people control or manage change, and a way of organizing information and experience so that employees can alter their behaviors on the job to their own and the company's benefit. At some point, all employees will need training. The most effective training programs for learning organizations are built on models grounded in basic theories of adult learning, including Malcolm Knowles' andragogical model of adult learning. The following steps are key to training development: (1) conduct a needs assessment; (2) assess target learners' relevant characteristics; (3) analyze the work setting's characteristics; (4) gather detailed information about the work done by the organization's workers; (5) write statements of performance objectives; (6) develop performance measures; (7) specify the instructional strategies; (8) design the instructional materials; (9) conduct the training; and (10) evaluate the instruction. The critical step of evaluating training should measure the following items: participants' satisfaction with the training; what participants learned during training; how they applied their learning on the job; the business results achieved when participants met the training objectives; and the return on investment for training and development. (Contains 12 references.) (MN) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. Running head: Occupational Training and Development PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) 1 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDU TIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. ° Points of view or opinions stated inthis document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. The Role of Occupational Training and Evaluation in the Learning Organization Marco A. Mufioz Maria D. Munoz University of Louisville Educational Foundations Department VanHoose Education Center 3332 Newburg Road Louisville, KY 40218 E-mail: mmunoz2 @j efferson.k12.ky.us Phone: (502) 485-6348 FAX: (502) 485-6255 2 BEST C Y AVAILABLE