Training satisfaction surveys: what to ask and how to use the answers

Almost every training centre sends out a survey at the end of a course. Far fewer do anything with the answers. The survey becomes a formality: learners answer quickly, the team files the results and the next course starts exactly like the last one.

Done well, a survey is the cheapest way to find out what works and what doesn’t. These are the keys to making it useful.

Don’t wait until the last day

A single survey at the end comes too late for the group answering it. It is better to spread your listening across three moments:

• Before the course: expectations, starting level and availability. It helps you adjust the pace from week one.
• During the course: two or three quick questions halfway through. There is still time to correct course.
• At the end: overall rating, usefulness and suggestions for improvement.

In Weeras Academy surveys are added as just another course activity, at whatever point you choose, and can be saved in a repository to reuse in other courses and editions.

Ask little and ask clearly

The more questions you ask, the fewer and less thoughtful the answers. A final survey of 8 to 10 questions is usually enough. Some guidelines:

• One idea per question: “Were the pace and materials appropriate?” mixes two things.
• Always use the same scale, for example 1 to 5, so you can compare groups and editions.
• Add at least one open question: “What would you change about the course?”. It usually gives the most valuable information.
• Ask about usefulness, not just enjoyment: “Will you apply what you learned in your job?”.

For subsidised training, the survey is mandatory

In training subsidised through FUNDAE in Spain, beneficiary companies must give each participant the FUNDAE quality evaluation questionnaire at the end of the training action. Answering is voluntary for learners, but failing to hand it out can lead to a reduction in the subsidy, according to the FUNDAE help manual.

Weeras Academy includes a form to complete that survey and options to view and export the results. To see the rest of the process, read how to simplify the management of subsidised training.

Close the loop with learners

The most effective way to get more answers is to show that they matter. When a new edition starts, explain on the notice board what you have changed thanks to the previous group’s feedback. Learners see that their voice counts and answer more carefully.

Surveys also work for peer assessment: learners rate each other’s work and get more involved in collaborative learning. You will find more ideas in how to keep an online course engaging.

Turn answers into decisions

Review the results with the teaching team when each edition closes and settle on two or three concrete changes. Cross-check the answers with the group tracking reports: if a unit has low marks and learners also say it is hard to follow, you know where to start. Keep the conclusions with the course so the next edition starts better.

Want to see how surveys work in Weeras Academy? Request a free demo.