Linking People, Learning and Performance

2007 - 2008 Events

Measuring Learning Results

How Research-Based Fundamentals
Can Help Us End
Deception and Learn to Love the Loop

Presented By

Will Thalheimer

Thursday, September 20, 2007
6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Londerry Room, Highlander Inn, Manchester

Description: Smile sheets give us inadequate information. Level 2 assessments are poorly designed AND poorly deployed. How can we get valid feedback on our learning programs? Using insights gleaned from the research on learning, Dr. Will Thalheimer will explore this vexing issue from multiple perspectives. The session will cover the context, timing, and inadvertent biasing of assessments; the development of authentic questions; the benefits of questioning; and the criticality of improved feedback mechanisms to drive instructional-design improvements. Based on his recent research-to-practice report, Measuring Learning Results: Creating Fair and Valid Assessments by Considering Findings from Fundamental Learning Research, this is a topic NOT TO BE MISSED.

Takeaway: The whole session will aim to answer the practical application question, "What can we do differently to insure valid evaluations (and improved instructional design) when we get back to the job?" Discussions and participant input will be encouraged as we wrangle with the provocative meaning of the learning research as it uniquely applies to evaluation and measurement.

Who Should Attend: Dr. Thalheimer is known for covering complex concepts and making them understandable and actionable. While the presentation/discussion will engage senior learning professionals; even novices will find value in the dialogue.

If You Can't Attend: While nothing beats seeing Dr. Thalheimer in person, engaging in discussion, and asking questions, those of you interested in the topic can purchase his research-to-practice report on measurement at www.work-learning.com/catalog/

Speaker Bio: Will Thalheimer is a learning expert, researcher, instructional designer, business strategist, manager, marketer, speaker, writer, and visionary. Dr. Thalheimer has worked in the learning-and-performance field since 1985. He founded Work-Learning Research in 1998 to bridge the gap between research and practice, to compile research on learning, and disseminate research findings to help instructional designers, e-learning developers, trainers, and performance consultants build more effective learning-and-performance solutions. His clients have included giant multinationals, e-learning companies, government agencies, and institutions of higher learning. His research and writings have led the field in providing practical research-based recommendations through his online publications (www.work-learning.com/catalog), published articles, and his industry-leading blog (www.willatworklearning.com). Dr. Thalheimer speaks regularly at national and international conferences. His conference presentations always receive numerous evaluation-sheet comments like the following: "This was one of the best presentations I attended-solid information delivered in a style that helped me learn." Will holds a BA from the Pennsylvania State University, an MBA from Drexel University, and a PhD in Educational Psychology: Human Learning and Cognition from Columbia University.

Click here for directions.

Come enjoy networking with your fellow ASTD members, eating, drinking and winning wonderful door prizes!

Please RSVP no later than Thursday, September 13 to

Donna Rinaldi at dssdr@c1mail.com

At-a-glance